Reserves
Discovery Silver Provides Cordero Project Update
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of November, 2022.

Quartz stockwork veining
By Miguel A Heredia
During the 46th week of the year (November 14th to November 20th, 2022), at least 15 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media with five reporting resources and developments of their properties, four communicating production and financial results, three informing on exploration results, three commenting on Mexican issues, one disclosing deals and corporate issues, one discussing social issues, and one announcing financing issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, The mining industry is one of the industries that consumes the least vital liquid and, at the same time, the one that acquires it at the highest cost, refuting the myth about water consumption in mining. Alamos Gold, GoGold, Aztec Minerals, Silver Tiger, and Minaurum Gold reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of November, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Aztec Minerals reported results for five drill holes from the recently completed phase 3 drill program at its Cervantes project, Tocvan announced that initial drilling is ongoing at its El Picacho project, and Minaurum provided an update on the underground rehabilitation work at the historical Promontorio mine within its Alamos Silver project. ON MINING, Starcore reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. MAG Silver announced Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas. US Antimony reported September-October production results. SilverCrest reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Las Chispas project in Sonora. ON FINANCING, Vizsla closed its previously announced bought deal financing for gross proceeds of $CAD 34.5M (Panuco project, Sinaloa). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Silver Tiger released results from its on-going drilling program at its El Tigre project in Sonora, and provided an update on the underground rehabilitation of the El Tigre Mine. Gatos Silver announced that it has filed a NI 43-101 technical report to disclose a Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve update for its Los Gatos project, Chihuahua. Alamos Gold extended high-grade mineralization at its Puerto del Aire Deposit within Mulatos district, Sonora. GoGold released strong results from the new drilling program at its Los Ricos South Main Area and at the newly acquired Eagle concession in Jalisco. Zacatecas Silver announced its initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at its Esperanza Gold project in Morelos. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Zacatecas Silver entered into an agreement with Gold Standard Media and with Future Monet Trends to raise awareness of the company`s shares among investors (Esperanza Gold project, Morelos). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fundación Grupo México in alliance with the Government of Jalisco, promoted the forest recovery in the Municipalities of Sayula, Encarnación de Díaz and Ocotlán through the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Development (SEMADET) in coordination with the Intermunicipal Boards of the Environment (JIMA) and the Jalisco Solidarity Volunteers.
ON MEXICO ISSUE
- The mining industry is one of the industries that consumes the least vital liquid and, at the same time, the one that acquires it at the highest cost, while agricultural use, which represents 77% of national water consumption, does not contribute any payment for it to the public treasury. Despite the fact that it only consumes 1.4% of the country`s water, the authorization of concessions for the use of this resource for mining constitutes the main source of income for this concept of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). According to data from the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX), around 50% of government incomes from payment of rights for the use of water in the country are those contributed by mining companies. The Mexican territory is divided in four availability zones and, depending on the zone in which it operates, is the amount that concessionaires must pay for each cubic meter. Mexican mining pays up to MXP $26 for each cubic meter of water, while the average for the different industries is MXP $14. Municipalities pay only MXP $0.58. Meanwhile, the agricultural and livestock sectors, which are the main consumers in the country, do not pay rights for concessions for the use of water and despite this, these users tend to blame mining for the shortage. In Mexico, there are two types of concessions for the use of water: groundwater (located in subsoil aquifers) and surface water (found in rivers and lakes). According to CONAGUA, the main uses of this water resource are agricultural and livestock, which together consume approximately 76.7%; It is followed by urban public use, which is equivalent to 14.1%; the use for electricity generation with 5.1% and industries, whose consumption amounts to 4.1%. Of this amount, 0.9% corresponds to the mining sector. It refutes the myth about water consumption in mining.
- Alamos Gold Inc, GoGold Inc, Aztec Minerals Corp, Silver Tiger Metals Inc, and Minaurum Gold Inc reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of November, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
ON EXPLORATION
- Aztec Minerals Corp., reported results for five drill holes from the recently completed phase 3 drill program at its Cervantes project in Sonora. Highlights of the drilling include hole CAL22-027 in the West-Central area of the California Zone with 0.68 g/t Au over 120m; and hole CAL22-029, a step out extending the California Zone to the North, with 0.77 g/t Au over 57m. These results have expanded the footprint of the known extents of the mineralized and altered California quartz feldspar intrusive complex to the North. “The area currently being drilled measures approximately 900 meters long E – W by 730 meters wide, with demonstrated, continuous mineralization of up to 170 meters in depth. The porphyry gold-copper mineralization is still open in all directions”.
- Tocvan Ventures Corp., announced that initial drilling is ongoing at its El Picacho project in Sonora. The drilling program is focused on two primary areas within the San Ramon prospect: Las Guijas where underground chip samples range from 0.5 to 8.2 g/t Au, with an average of 3.6 g/t Au, and San Ramon where underground samples range from 0.3 to 22 g/t Au, with an average of 5 g/t Au. The property is currently permitted for 14 drill pads. El Picacho is host to several other target areas permitted for drilling that span across the 24 km2 project area.
- Minaurum Gold Inc., provided an update on the underground rehabilitation work at the historical Promontorio mine within its Alamos Silver project. It informed that has successfully accessed and is dewatering the main haulage level along with clearing crosscuts in the El Tirito area of the mine, which lies approximately 300m from the Promontorio adit entrance. Approximately 200 tonnes of ballast and 50 tonnes of backfill have been removed from the first 300 m of the haulage level and stockpiled outside the mine entrance. Three of the five service holes that were drilled to provide air, water, and electricity to facilitate underground rehabilitation efforts intercepted the Promontorio Vein. The most significant drill intercept encountered 98 g/t Ag, 3.6% Pb, and 7.9% Zn over 5.8m. In addition, sampling and mapping of dumps at Promontorio revealed a boulder of massive sulfide vein assaying 3,320 g/t Ag, 54.7 g/t Au, 25% Cu, 6.5% Pb, and 1.1% Zn. “The boulder, measuring roughly a meter across, is an indication of the type of grades exploited by early miners at Promontorio”.
ON MINING
- Starcore International Mines Ltd., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its San Martin mine in Queretaro. The company milled 57,165 tonnes of 1.46 g/t Au and 13 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 87.14% and 47.86% respectively, to produce 2,452 Oz AuEq.
- MAG Silver Corp., announced Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Juanicipio project in Zacatecas, where it owns 44% of the property and Fresnillo plc owns the remainder 56%. The company reported on a 100% basis, that 180,808 tonnes of 513 g/t Ag were processed through the Fresnillo and Saucito plants to produce 2.42M Oz Ag, 4,901 Oz Au, 3M Lb Pb, and 4.56M Lb Zn. MAG reported a net income of USD $8.23M and cash of $USD 39.5M (Juanicipio had cash on hands of $USD 18.2M). Pre-commercial production sales totaled USD $49.7M, less USD $18.1 in mining and transportation costs and USD $6.4M in depreciation and amortization charges, netting USD $25.2M in gross profit by Juanicipio. The company also reported a cash balance at the end of the quarter of USD $18.2M down from USD $37.5M at the end of Q2, 2022.
- US Antimony Corporation reported September-October production results. The company milled 1,116 tonnes of 0.87 g/t Au and 96 g/t Ag from its Los Juarez Mine in Querétaro. In addition, the company announced that assay results from the previously announced soil sampling and rock chip programs on the 1km x 3 km grid at Los Juarez have been received with analysis values for Sb, Au, Ag, and trace elements. These results are being tabulated and assessed. Geologist and Geophysicist in Mexico have just completed the Geophysical Survey and are in the process of interpreting the results and generating a report. This report may be available prior to Q4 but most likely will be published early in Q1 of 2023.
- SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Las Chispas project in Sonora. The company produced 4,121 Oz Au and 373.5K Oz Ag (731.6K Oz AgEq) and had its first metal sales of 140.3K Oz Ag at an average price of USD $19.38 per Oz Ag, generating USD $2.7M in revenue. As of September 30, 2022 the company remains well-funded with cash and cash equivalents of USD $88.6M, and a debt balance of USD $90M.
ON FINANCING
- Vizsla Silver Corp., closed its previously announced bought deal financing of 23.8M units of the company at a price of CAD $1.45 per unit for gross proceeds of $CAD 34.5M. Net proceeds will be used to advance the exploration and development of its Panuco project in Sinaloa, including the delivery of an updated mineral resource estimate in Q4, 2022, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Silver Tiger Metals Inc., released results from its on-going drilling program at its El Tigre project in Sonora, and provided an update on the underground rehabilitation of the El Tigre Mine. The most significant drill intercept was encountered in hole ET-22-378 with 0.12 g/t Au, 469 g/t Ag, 0.66% Cu, 0.5% Pb, and 0.6% Zn (525 g/t AgEq) over 6.5m, including 0.25 g/t Au, 1,002 g/t Ag, 0.39% Cu, 0.6% Pb, and 0.7% Zn (1,096 g/t AgEq) over 1m at the Benjamin Vein Zone, plus 0.15 g/t Au, 212 g/t Ag, 0.12% Cu, 2.5% Pb, and 6.9% Zn (524 g/t AgEq) over 6.9m, including 0.28 g/t Au, 940 g/t Ag, 0.6% Cu, 6.9% Pb, and 16.2% Zn (1,720 g/t AgEq) over 0.8m at the Shale Zone. The company also reported that the underground rehabilitation of the historic El Tigre mine is progressing well. Silver Tiger reported that to date it has rehabilitated over 450m in level 7, which was the main portal to the mine. “Silver Tiger is still on schedule to reach the Sooy Vein and then begin underground drilling of this new discovery under the Northern end of the unmined portion of the Historic El Tigre Mine”.
- Gatos Silver Inc., announced that it has filed a NI 43-101 technical report to disclose a Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve update for its Los Gatos project, Chihuahua.
- Alamos Gold Inc. reported new results from its ongoing drilling program and extended high-grade mineralization at its Puerto del Aire Deposit within Mulatos district, Sonora. Puerto Del Aire is a higher-grade underground deposit, adjacent to the main Mulatos pit, and is comprised of five zones including PDA1, PDA2, Gap, Victor and Estrella. Highlights of the drilling at PDA1 Zone include hole 21MUL051 with 32.24 g/t Au uncut ( 20.78 g/t Au cut) over a true width (TW) of 5.30m; hole 21MUL019 with 4.26 g/t Au over a TW of 2.25m, plus 26.28 g/t Au uncut (20.44 g/t Au cut) over a TW of 4.60m; hole 21MUL014 with 4.43 g/t Au over a TW of 4.50m, plus 18.01 g/t Au uncut (15.27 g/t Au cut) over a TW of 6.15m; hole 21MUL016 with 3.64 g/t Au over a TW of 6m, plus 3.02 g/t Au over a TW of 1.50m, plus 3.12 g/t Au over a TW of 11.50m, plus 3.63 g/t Au over a TW of 26.05m; hole MUL21021 with 10.66 g/t Au over a TW of 5.90m, plus 4.20 g/t Au over a TW of 12.25m, plus 14.57 g/t Au over a TW of 2.75m, plus 10.86 g/t Au over a TW of 8.35m; and hole 21MUL015 with 4.90 g/t Au over a TW of 1.15m, plus 6.78 g/t Au over a TW of 10.50m, plus 4.99 g/t Au over a TW of 1.40m. Highlights of the drilling at PDA2 Zone include hole 22MUL039 with 4.06 g/t Au over a TW of 0.85m, plus 13.89 g/t Au uncut (9.26 g/t Au cut) over a TW of 10.35m; hole 22MUL053 with 8.75 g/t Au over a TW of 13.15m, plus 7.7 g/t Au over a TW of 6m, plus 8.90 g/t Au over a TW of 3m, plus 4.20 g/t Au over a TW of 12.95m; hole 22MUL058 with 7.62 g/t Au over a TW of 14.65m; hole 22MUL052 with 3.07 g/t Au over a TW of 1.50m, plus 32.60 g/t Au over a TW of 2.35m, plus 10.90 g/t Au over a TW of 1.50m, plus 11.40 g/t Au over a TW of 1.50m; and hole 22MUL046 with 4.01 g/t Au over 1.70m, plus 13.22 g/t Au over 4.50m. Highlights of the drilling at Victor-Gap Zone include hole 21MUL011 with 31.97 g/t Au uncut (11.80 g/t Au cut) over a TW of 12.90m. “Drilling to date has demonstrated the significant potential to further expand high-grade mineralization at Puerto Del Aire with the deposit open in multiple directions”.
- GoGold Resources Inc., released strong results from the new drilling program at its Los Ricos South Main Area and at the newly acquired Eagle concession in Jalisco. Highlights of the drilling include hole LRGG-22-209 collared at Los Ricos South Main Area with 3.15 g/t Au and 276 g/t Ag (6.84 g/t AuEq or 513 g/t AgEq) over 33.2m, including 30.19 g/t Au and 2,588 g/t Ag (64.69 g/t AuEq or 4,852 g/t AgEq) over 3m, including 73.10 g/t Au and 5,620 g/t Ag (148.03 g/t AuEq or 11,103 g/t AgEq) over 1m; and hole LRGG-22-043 collared at the Eagle Concession with 0.67 g/t Au and 78 g/t Ag (1.72 g/t AuEq or 129 g/t AgEq) over 8.2m, plus 1.32 g/t Au and 216 g/t Ag (4.20 g/t AuEq or 315 g/t AgEq) over 20.7m, including 2.73 g/t Au and 428 g/t Ag (8.44 g/t AuEq or 633 g/t AgEq) over 9.3m, including 7.89 g/t Au and 999 g/t Ag (21.21 g/t AuEq or 1,591 g/t AgEq) over 2.5m, including 17.20 g/t Au and 2,130 g/t Ag (45.80 g/t AuEq or 3,420 g/t AgEq) over 0.70m. The purpose of the program is to better define the very high grade portions of the current deposit that may be amenable to bulk underground mining. “The Company exploration team has been completing detailed mapping and sampling at Jamaica over the last year and sees the same structure that was drilled in the main zone at Los Ricos South extending for several kilometers over the Jamaica concessions. This offers the potential for an additional bulk tonnage target in Los Ricos South, with continuity from the Main Area and Eagle”.
- Zacatecas Silver Corp., announced its initial Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at its Esperanza Gold project in Morelos. A summary of the MRE is shown in the table below:
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Zacatecas Silver Corp., entered into an agreement with Gold Standard Media and with Future Money Trends LLC to raise awareness of the Company’s shares among investors. The engagement is for 12 months of services, with amounts payable as follows: USD $100K on acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, USD $100K within 3 months, USD $100K within 6 months and USD $100K within 9 months. Subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, the activities will commence late November, 2022 and are for a period of one year.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Fundación Grupo México in alliance with the Government of Jalisco, promoted the forest recovery in the Municipalities of Sayula, Encarnación de Díaz and Ocotlán through the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Development (SEMADET) in coordination with the Intermunicipal Boards of the Environment (JIMA) and the Jalisco Solidarity Volunteers.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, quartz stockwork veining from a low sulphidation epithermal vein system in a project in Sonora, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Third Week of October, 2022.
Cockade texture
By Miguel A Heredia
During the 42nd week of the year (October 17th to October 23th, 2022), at least 15 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 4 news published by the media with six communicating production and financial issues, four reporting resources and developments of their properties, four commenting on Mexican issues, two announcing financing issues, one discussing social issues, one discussing deals and corporate issues, and one informing on exploration results. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Hermosillo, the capital city of the Sonora State, hosted the 14th International Mining Congress in October 18-21, 2022 with the participation of over 5,000 people. The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) warned that thefts of output and goods like explosives in the mining industry continue to increase despite the support provided by the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA). According to data from the Ministry of Economy, the Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex) and experts, there is a mining collapse in Mexico since 822 mining projects were postponed, 180 foreign capital firms have left the country and there are 25 concessions stopped. GoGold and GR Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of October, 2022. ON EXPLORATION, In Sinaloa, Prismo provided an update on its ongoing drill program conducted at its Palos Verdes project located in the historic Panuco-Copala mining district. ON MINING, Avino, Santacruz, Golden Minerals, American Gold and Silver, and First Majestic reported Q3, 2022 production results from their Mexican mining operations, while Guanajuato Silver announced that it has recommenced mining at its Valenciana Mines Complex in Guanajuato, and provided a 6-month production estimate. ON FINANCING, Sierra Metals announced that it has commenced a process to evaluate and consider the company´s current financial and liquidity position, operational challenges and possible financing and restructuring alternatives that may be available to the company. Barksdale closed the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $264K, and completed an extension of financial instruments (San Javier project in Sonora). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Avino announced that the installation and commissioning of the dry-stack tailings at its Avino mine in Durango has been completed. GoGold reported the acquisition of the 1,107 Ha Eagle concession covering the northern strike of the Main Deposit on the Los Ricos South property in Jalisco. Equinox released an updated feasibility study (FS) for its Los Filos mine expansion located in Guerrero State. GR Silver presented drilling results and announced the extension of the SE Area Silver Discovery at its Plomosas deposit in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Avinois conducting community agreements in the nearby towns adjacent to its la Preciosa property in Durango as it is committed to moving this project forward as part of the company´s 5-year growth strategy. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Industrias Peñoles and Fresnillo plc mining companies reiterated their commitment in saving and energy efficiency to continue implementing actions that contribute to the fight against global warming in order to build the mining of the 21st century.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- Hermosillo, the capital city of the Sonora State, hosted the 14th International Mining Congress during October 18-21, 2022, with the participation of over 5,000 people.
- The Mexican Mining Chamber (CAMIMEX) warned that thefts of output and goods like explosives in the mining industry continue to increase despite the support provided by the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA). The General Director of CAMIMEX, Karen Flores, said that thefts remain a recurrent issue in the sector and highlighted that these crimes are probably perpetrated by organized crime.
- According to data from the Ministry of Economy, the Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex) and experts, there is a mining collapse in Mexico since 822 mining projects were postponed, 180 foreign capital firms have left the country and there are 25 concessions stopped. If the policy were to change, 30% more jobs would be created and the contribution to Mexico’s GDP would increase by 0.5%, according to estimates. Mining and metallurgical activity exceeded tourism by 19% in foreign exchange generation. The president of the Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM), indicated that the uncertainty generated by this administration in the sector has caused a slowdown, which has left investments far from the more than USD $8 billion that were reached in previous years. GoGold Resources Inc., and GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the third week of October, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
ON EXPLORATION
- Prismo Metals Inc., provided an update on its ongoing drill program conducted at its Palos Verdes project located in the historic Panuco-Copala mining district in the state of Sinaloa. A total of 1,203m in 4 holes have been drilled to date out of a planned minimum of 2,000m. Drilling has intersected wide structural zones at depth where the Palos Verdes vein is branching into several strands measuring from about 0.5m to 9m in width in andesitic rocks. Core sampling is being completed on the entire structural zone including wall rock with veinlets. Assay results are expected to arrive in early November, 2022.
ON MINING
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q3, 2022 production results from its Avino mine in Durango. The company milled 162.1K tonnes of 59 g/t Ag, 0.31 g/t Au, and 0.66% Cu with metallurgical recoveries of 92%, 74%, and 89% respectively to produce 285.4K Oz Ag, 1.2K Oz Au and 2.1M Lb Cu (778K Oz AgEq).
- Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., announced Q3, 2022 production results from its Zimapan mine in Hidalgo. It milled 215,765 tonnes of 79 g/t Ag, 2% Zn, 0.7% Pb, and 0.39% Cu to produce 368.6K Oz Ag, 6.8M Lb Zn, 2.6M Lb Pb, and 1.4M Lb Cu (988.6K Oz AgEq).
- Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., has recommenced mining at its Valenciana Mines Complex (VMC) in Guanajuato. Cut & fill mining of high-grade epithermal veins at Valenciana is currently focused on the Los Pozos mine area where several mineralized blocks had been previously defined. Mineralized material from Valenciana is currently being transported to El Cubo for processing. The company expects to mine 5,000 tonnes per month at Valenciana throughout the remainder of 2022. “The Cata processing facility is centrally located within the Valenciana Mines Complex and has a production capacity of 36,000 tonnes per month. In November 2021 Cata was placed on care & maintenance by its previous owner. Guanajuato Silver had initially anticipated restarting the Cata mill in 2023, but with the rapid recommencement of mining at San Ignacio and the VMC, the company now expects to restart mineral processing at Cata before the end of 2022. The company also provided a 6-month production estimate. Guanajuato Silver expects to mine 125K-140K tonnes in Q4, 2022 to produce over 760K-985K and over 140K-160K tonnes in Q1, 2023 to produce over 910K-1.15M Oz AgEq.
- Golden Minerals Company announced Q3, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine in Durango. The company mined 192,545 tonnes and reported that 23,618 tonnes were placed in stockpiles awaiting processing and 121,202 tonnes were placed in low grade stockpiles. Golden processed 47,947 tonnes of 2.6 g/t Au and 10 g/t Ag with metallurgical recoveries of 74.6% and 77.6% respectively., to produce 2,972 payable Oz Au in Dore and 11,907 payable Oz Ag in Dore (3,103 payable Oz AuEq in Dore). The company sold 3,108 Oz Au and 11,609 Oz Ag (3,145 Oz AuEq) at an average realized price before refining and selling costs of USD $1,703.10 per Oz Au and USD $18.72 per Oz Ag.
- Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q3, 2022 production results from its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. It produced 186K Oz Ag, 3.8M Lb Pb, and 9.4M Lb Zn and announced that silver production from the Cosalá operations for the full year 2022 is expected to be at the lower end of the projected range of 0.7-0.9M Oz Ag, while zinc and lead production are expected to be towards the upper end of the projected ranges of 36 to 40M Lb Zn and 13 to 15M Lb Pb.
- First Majestic Silver Corp., reported Q3, 2022 production results from their Mexican Mining operations (San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora, and La Encantada in Coahuila). Figures by mine are shown in the table below:
ON FINANCING
- Sierra Metals Inc., announced that it has commenced a process to evaluate and consider the company´s current financial and liquidity position, operational challenges and possible financing and restructuring alternatives that may be available to the company. “The company faces liquidity challenges as a result of the recent previously announced suspension of operations at the Yauricocha Mine in Peru, and operating losses and negative cash flows that have accumulated, primarily from the Bolivar and Cusi operations in Mexico”.
- Barksdale Resources Corp., closed the final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement with Teck Resources Limited for gross proceeds of $264K. The net proceeds will be used for general corporate and working capital purposes. Barksdale also completed an extension of the maturity date of the secured convertible debentures administered by Delbrook Capital Advisors Inc. by one year until December31, 2023. The debentures have a remaining principal amount of $1.5M and all other terms of the debentures remain unchanged except for the conversion price, which has increased to $0.55 per share from $0.45 per share (San Javier project in Sonora).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., announced that the installation and commissioning of the dry-stack tailings at its Avino mine in Durango has been completed. The company chose dry-stack tailings for its environmental, safety and economic advantages, as well as because it reduces the need to extract water from local sources by recycling the water removed from tailings.
- GoGold Resources Inc., reported the acquisition of the 1,107 Ha Eagle concession covering the northern strike of the Main Deposit on the Los Ricos South property in Jalisco by USD $2.1M to be paid over 4 years. As a result of this acquisition, all of the concessions in Los Ricos South are now contiguous. “This offers the potential for an additional bulk tonnage target in Los Ricos South, with continuity from the Main Area and Eagle”.
- Equinox Gold Corp., released an updated feasibility study (FS) for its Los Filos mine expansion located in Guerrero State. Highlights of the FS include an after-tax NVP at 5% discount rate of USD $625M at base case of USD $1,675 per Oz Au; after-tax IRR of 26% at USD $1,675 per Oz Au; 5.4M Oz Au of Proven + Probable Mineral Reserves with grades of 0.65 g/t Au for open pit ore material and 3.94 g/t Au for underground ore material (average grade of 0.86 g/t Au); 7.9M Oz Au of Measured and Indicated Resources (exclusive of Reserves) with grades of 0.71 g/t Au for open pit ore material and 3.65 g/t Au for underground ore material (average grade of 0.75 g/t Au); 3.97M Oz life-of-mine (LOM) Au production, with 360K Oz peak average annual gold production (2025-2030), 280K Oz average annual gold production LOM (2023-2036), 1.22M Oz Au produced from the heap leach with average recovery of 55%, 2.75M Oz Au produced from the CIL plant with average recovery of 88%; 11.83M Oz LOM silver production; USD $993M after-tax LOM cumulative net cash flow; USD $981/ Oz average LOM cash cost; USD $1,081/Oz average LOM AISC; USD $318M initial capital cost to build the CIL plant and associated infrastructure; and 14.5-year mine life with extension potential from Mineral Resources conversion and exploitation success.
- GR Silver Mining Ltd., presented drilling results and announced the extension of the SE Area Silver Discovery at its Plomosas deposit in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole SMS22-16 which identified a wide hydrothermal breccia and stockwork system with multiple high grade Ag intervals such as 112 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn over 123.1m, including 289 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn over 13.1m, including 4,680 g/t Ag, 0.57 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 0.4m, and 250 g/t Ag, 0.1 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 27.3m, including 1,351 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 0.3m, and 635 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 6.4m, including 2,203 g/t Ag, 0.17 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.4% Zn over 0.5m, and 102 g/t Ag and 2.6 g/t Au over 1.5m; and hole SMS22-14 with 23 g/t Au and 0.06 g/t Au over 10.5m, and 118 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn over 3.5m, including 1,790 g/t Ag, 0.03 g/t Au, 0.7% Pb, and 2.9% Zn over 0.2m, and 22 g/t Ag, 0.08 g/t Au over 10.9m. The drilling program continues at the SE Area to define the geometry and lateral extents of the mineralization. “The occurrence of Ag anomalous zones on surface along the 1.5km target contact, further SE from the SE Area, provides new targets for the company to continue drilling, aimed at expanding the footprint of mineralization and potentially for incorporation into the planned resource estimation update in Q1, 2023”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd is conducting community agreements in the nearby towns adjacent to its la Preciosa property in Durango as it is committed to moving this project forward as part of the company´s 5-year growth strategy.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V. and Fresnillo plc mining companies reiterated their commitment in saving and energy efficiency to continue implementing actions that contribute to the fight against global warming in order to build the mining of the 21st century. In accordance with their sustainable development policies, both companies have programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as those from transportation, for which they implemented a strategy to save energy and use clean sources. Peñoles and Fresnillo plc are committed to caring for the environment and seek to achieve, in the near future, the objective of zero significant environmental impacts.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, cockade texture from a low-sulphidation epithermal Au-Ag vein system in a project in Sinaloa, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of August, 2022.
By Miguel A Heredia
During the 32nd week of the year (August 08th to August 14th, 2022), at least 27 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 2 news published by the media with twelve communicating production and financial results, four disclosing deals and corporate issues, three commenting on Mexican issues, three reporting resources and developments of their properties, three informing on exploration results, two announcing financing issues, and two discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, Vizsla Silver, GR Silver, and Defiance Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of August, 2022. According to a report from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security, in the last three years, 979 mine inspections have been carried out throughout the country, of which 387 have been carried out in the coal zone of Sabinas, Coahuila. The General Directorate of Mines of the Ministry of Economy provisionally suspended works on 10 mining concessions in Sabinas Coahuila. ON EXPLORATION, In Coahuila, Monumental Minerals announced results of a recently satellite multispectral interpretation covering its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project. In Durango, Silver Wolf released 155 grab sample results collected during the ongoing surface sample program at its Ana Maria project which has returned some high-grade values up to 1,536 g/t Ag, 34% Pb, and 19.4% Zn. In Zacatecas, Defiance Silver provided an update on the 4,750m maiden drill program at its Lucita project, within its Zacatecas Silver property. ON MINING, Argonaut reported Q2, 2022 production results from their Mexican mining operations. Aura provided a production guidance for 2022 on its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas where it expects to produce between 115-120K Oz AuEq at cash cost between USD $645-690 per Oz AuEq produced. Avino reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Avino mine, Durango. Capstone reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cozamin mine, Zacatecas. Endeavour reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Guanacevi and Bolañitos mines in Durango and Guanajuato respectively. Gatos Silver reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. GoGold reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. Golden reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine, Durango. Orla reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Camino Rojo mine, Zacatecas. SilverCrest reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Las Chispas project, Sonora. Americas reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cosala mine in Sinaloa. ON FINANCING, Advance announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $200K (Sarape project, Sonora). Fabled informed about an extension of its non-brokered private placement (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua). Fortuna Silver reported Q2. 2022 from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. GoGold reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. Golden Minerals reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine, Durango. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, GR Silver reported a new Ag discovery SE of its San Marcial Resource Area on its wholly-owned Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Pan American Silver reported Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources as at June 30, 2022 for their Mexican properties. Vizsla released results from 26 new drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Prismo announced that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement in the United States through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). Consolidated Zinc made several management changes (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua). Advance Lithium sold its royalty on three claims in Kenya to Orogen for USD $120K and the transfer of the 100% ownership of its Sarape property, Sonora. Kootenay amended the schedule on the final payment of its option agreement for 100% of the Columba high-grade silver project, Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, First Majestic released its 2021 Sustainability report. Peñoles and Fresnillo plc promote entrepreneurs.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- Vizsla Silver, GR Silver and Defiance Silver reported the best drilling intercepts in Mexico on the second week of August, 2022. Details are shown in the table below:
- According to a report from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Security, in the last three years, 979 mine inspections have been carried out throughout the country, of which 387 have been carried out in the coal zone, which means that “39% of all the mining inspections that have been carried out in the coal zone of Sabinas (Sabinas, Nueva Rosita, Palau)”. In the coal region, in these three years, 27 mining operations have been closed; that is, 84% of all mine closures in the country, due to non-compliance with security measures; to date 15 remain in force. In addition, the Ministry of Economy has been informed of the existence of 12 concessions that presumably could have irregularities.
- The General Directorate of Mines of the Ministry of Economy provisionally suspended the works on 10 mining concessions in Sabinas Coahuila, on August 11, until the employers or representatives of each of the work centers certify compliance with the measures dictated in each one of the respective files after the inspections carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (STPS). The then General Director of Mines did not proceed with the provisional suspension of the works, arguing that the STPS information on the 10 previously mentioned mining concessions did not coincide with the registry data held by the General Directorate of Mines. Considering this and other possible irregularities, the Directors of Mines and Obligations were dismissed last June with the purpose of investigating and, where appropriate, establishing the corresponding responsibilities.
ON EXPLORATION
- Monumental Minerals Corp., announced results of a recently satellite multispectral interpretation covering its Jemi Heavy Rare Earth Elements project in Coahuila. The interpretation highlighted discreet areas that may host eudialyte-bearing dykes, veins, and disseminations. Eudialyte is a Na, Ca, Fe/Mn, Zr silicate mineral that can contain up to 10% Rare Earth Elements, and 12% ZrO2. The Aster satellite spectral data also identified several areas prospective for Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag carbonate replacement deposits.
- Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., released 155 grab sample results collected during the ongoing surface sample program at its Ana Maria project, Durango, which has returned some high-grade values of Ag, Pb, and Zn. From the 155 samples collected by Silver Wolf, 30 returned values >100 g/t Ag, 73 returned > 0.5% Pb, and 59 returned > 0.5% Zn with peaks of 1,536 g/t Ag, 34% Pb, and 19.4% Zn. These results combined with the anomalies generated in the geophysical and remote sensing surveys will provide a basis for prioritizing drill targets.
- Defiance Silver Corp., provided an update on the 4,750m maiden drill program at its Lucita project, within its Zacatecas Silver property. Drilling has encountered multiple intercepts over 199 g/t Ag and individual high-grade silver intervals. Drilling highlights include hole DDLU-22-10 with 0.20 g/t Au and 264 g/t Ag over 3.05m, including 0.19 g/t Au and 668 g/t Ag over 0.77m, plus 0.37 g/t Au and 166 g/t Ag over 4.01m, including 0.57 g/t Au and 220 g/t Ag over 22.72m, including 1.13 g/t Au and 416 g/t Ag over 1.22m, plus 0.08 g/t Au and 235 g/t Ag over 2.25m, including 0.19 g/t Au and 737 g/t Ag over 0.53m, plus 0.03 g/t Au and 189 g/t Ag over 0.75m, plus 0.04 g/t Au and 108 g/t Ag over 0.88m; and hole DDLU-22-13 with 0.04 g/t Au and 147 g/t Ag over 1.57m, plus 0.04 g/t Au and 150 g/t Ag over 2m, including 0.2 g/t Au and 843 g/t Ag over 0.3m, plus 0.09 g/t Au and 109 g/t Ag over 1.15m. “The inaugural drill program at Lucita central (Palenque vein system) confirmed the presence of high-grade, Fresnillo-style, low to intermediate-sulfidation epithermal silver mineralization, consisting of mainly of pyrargyrite (high-level sulfosalt) and silver sulfides that potentially indicate the higher-level setting of a zoned epithermal system. Follow-up drilling is planned for later this year at the newly discovered zones of mineralization at Palenque and Tahures”.
ON MINING
- Argonaut Gold Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production results from their Mexican mining operations. At El Castillo mine, Durango, Argonaut mined 1,471,000 tonnes of 0.30 g/t Au to produce 12,047 Oz Au and 10,407 Oz Ag (12,178 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs)), and sold 11,463 Oz Au and 11,293 Oz Ag (11,603 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $1,513 per Oz Au sold. At San Agustin mine, Durango, the company mined 2,954,000 tonnes of 0.29 g/t Au to produce 18,033 Oz Au and 88,160 Oz Ag (19,135 GEOs), and sold 18,656 Oz Au and 93,420 Oz Ag (19,824 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $1,009 per Oz Au sold. At La Colorada mine, Sonora, Argonaut mined 976,000 tonnes of 0.44 g/t Au to produce 12,950 Oz Au and 35,191 Oz Ag (13,390 GEOs), and sold 13,322 Oz Au and 38,194 Oz Ag (13,799 GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $1,003 per Oz Au sold.
- Aura Minerals Inc., provided a production guidance for 2022 on its Aranzazu mine in Zacatecas where it expects to produce between 115-120K Oz AuEq at cash cost between USD $645-690 per Oz AuEq produced.
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Avino mine, Durango. The company mined 118,224 tonnes to produce 225.5K Oz Ag, 1,350 Oz Au, and 1.64M Lb Cu (649.6K Oz AgEq), and sold 594.7K Oz AgEq at cash and AISC of USD $8.39 and USD $15.95 respectively per Oz AgEq sold. Avino reported revenues of USD $9.4M; operating income of USD $3.9M; non-cash depreciation and depletion of USD $4.4M; net income of USD $2.3M; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBIDTA) of USD $4.1M; adjusted earnings of USD $2.5M, operating cash flow (before working capital changes of USD $2.5M; and free cash flow of USD $1.5M. Cash balance reported at June 30, 2022 of USD $12.8M and working capital of USD $14.3M.
- Capstone Copper Corp., reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cozamin mine, Zacatecas. The company produced 14.33M Lb Cu at a cash cost of USD $1.25 per Lb Cu produced.
- Endeavour Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from their Guanacevi and Bolañitos mines in Durango and Guanajuato respectively. At Guanacevi, Durango, Endeavour processed 94,017 tonnes to produce 1.19M payable Oz Ag and 3,680 payable Oz Au at cash cost of USD $10.35 per Oz Ag, total production cost of USD $12.90 per Oz Ag, direct operating cost per tonne of USD $170.75, and direct cost per tonne of USD $201.84 . At Bolañitos mine, Guanajuato, the company processed 107,344 tonnes to produce 155.7K payable Oz Ag and 5,609 payable Oz Au at cash cost of USD $8.01 per Oz Ag, total production cost of USD $24.66 per Oz Ag, direct operating cost per tonne of USD $99.25, and direct cost per tonne of USD $101.05. Consolidated results summarize 201.4K tonnes processed to produce 1.36M payable Oz Ag and 9.3K payable Oz Au (2.1M Oz AgEq) at cash cost of USD $10.18 per Oz Ag, AISC of USD $19.56 per Oz Ag, total production cost of USD $14.26 per Oz Ag, direct operating cost per tonne of USD $132.63, and direct cost per tonne of USD $148.11. The company reported revenues of USD $30.8M from 602.9K Oz Ag sold and 9.8K Oz Au sold at realized prices of USD $22.72 and USD $1,840 per Oz Ag and Oz Au respectively. It also reported a net earnings (loss) of USD $11.9M, adjusted earnings (loss) of USD $4.3M), mine operating earnings of USD $4.5M, mine operating cash flow before taxes of USD $8.8M, operating cash flow before working capital changes of USD $3.6M, and working capital of USD $149.7M.
- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc., reported Q2. 2022 from its San Jose mine, Oaxaca. The company mined 251.9K tonnes of 187 g/t Ag and 1.13 g/t Au, both with metallurgical recoveries of 91% to produce 1.38 M Oz Ag and 8.3K Oz Au. Fortuna sold 1.42M Oz Ag and 8.6K Oz Au at realized prices of USD $22.56 and USD $1,873 per Oz Ag and Au respectively at a production cash cost per tonne of USD $83.57, production cash cost per Oz Ag Eq of USD $11 and AISC per Oz AgEq of USD $15.41.
- Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Cerro Los Gatos mine, Chihuahua. The company milled 211,350 tonnes of 374 g/t Ag, 0.38 g/t Au, 2.79% Pb, and 5.03% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90.4%, 48.9%, 90.5%, and 66.4% respectively to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1.27K Oz Au, 11.8M Lb Pb, and 15.6M Lb Zn. Gatos Silver reported unaudited sales of USD $57.2M, cost of sales of USD $27.8M, royalties of USD $1M, G & A expenses of USD 3.6M, other expenses of USD $0.7M, capital expenditures of USD $20.5M, and cash balance of USD $40M as of June 30, 2022.
- GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project, Chihuahua. The company produced 213.5K Oz Ag, 3,081 Oz Au, and 219.5K Lb Cu at a cash and AISC of USD $13.17 and USD $17.73 per Oz AgEq respectively. GoGold reported revenues of USD $10.4M from the sale of 512.7K Oz AgEq at a realized price of USD $20.26 per Oz AgEq. It also reported cost of sales including depreciation of USD $7.9M, operating income of USD $221K, net income of USD $1.1M, free cash before working capital changes of USD $3.7M, and cash of USD $73.8M.
- Golden Minerals Company reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Rodeo mine, Durango. Golden produced 3,004 payable Oz Au and 12,768 payable Oz Ag (3,158 payable Oz AuEq) and sold 3,219 Oz AuEq at a realized price of USD $1,865 per Oz Au and USD $22.49 per Oz Ag. The total cash cost net of Ag byproduct credits was USD $1,426 per Oz AuEq. Golden reported revenues of USD $5.9M, net operating margin of USD $1.3M, cash and cash equivalent balance as of June 30, 2022 of USD $9.5M, and a net loss of 2.8M or USD $0.02 per share.
- Orla Mining ltd., reported production and financial results from its Camino Rojo mine, Zacatecas. The company produced 25,672 Oz Au and sold 25,431 Oz Au at an average price of USD $1,872 per Oz, and cash and AISC of USD $439 and USD $601 respectively. Orla reported revenues of USD $47.8M, cost of sales-operating cost of USD $10.8M, adjusted earnings of USD $11M, cash flow from operating activities before changes in non-cash working capital of USD $20.7M, free cash flow of USD $28.7M, cash and cash equivalents as at June 30, 2022 of USD $66.7M, and a net debt of USD $100.3M.
- SilverCrest Metals Inc., reported Q2, 2022 production and financial results from its Las Chispas project, Sonora. The company milled 12,700 tonnes of low-grade from historic stockpiles. At the end of June, 2022 it produced its first precious metal pour consisting of 312Kg of doré with approximately 2,200 Oz Ag and 100 Oz Au. SilverCrest reported cash and cash equivalents of USD $118.6M remaining under a USD $120M project financing facility, a value-added taxes (IVA) receivable in Mexico of USD $26.3M, an inventory of USD $19.4M, and mineral property, plant and equipment of USD $200M.
- Americas Gold and Silver Corporation reported Q2, 2022 production results from its Cosala mine in Sinaloa. It produced 128K Oz Ag, 3.9M Lb Pb, and 9.9M Lb Zn. Americas provided 2022 production guidance and expect to produce between 0.7-0.9M Oz Ag, 13-15M Lb Pb, and 36-40M Lb Zn.
ON FINANCING
- Advance Lithium Corp., announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to $200K. Gross proceeds will be used to advance its Sarape project in Sonora and for general corporate purposes.
- Fabled Silver Gold Corp., informed about an extension of its non-brokered private placement by 30 days starting this August 8, 2022 (Santa Maria project, Chihuahua).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- GR Silver Mining Ltd., reported a new Ag discovery SE of its San Marcial Resource Area on its wholly-owned Plomosas project, Sinaloa. Hole SMS22-10 encountered 308 g/t Ag, 0.02 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 101.6m, including 7,139 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 1,6% Pb, and 1.3% Zn over 0.8m, plus 3,065 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 0.3m, plus 1,774 g/t Ag, 0.01 g/t Au, 0.1% Zn over 0.20m, plus 1,508 g/t Ag, 0.1% Zn over 0.2m, plus 1,285 g/t Ag, 0.04 g/t Au, 0.1% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 0.3m, plus 1,004 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, 0.2% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 4.1m, plus 1,579 g/t Ag, 0.06 g/t Au, and 0.1% Zn over 0.4m, plus 1,017 g/t Ag, 0.15 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.7% Zn over 0.3m, plus 414 g/t Ag, 0.05 g/t Au, 0.4% Pb, and 0.9% Zn over 16.2m, including 1,405 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 0.8% Pb, and 1.9% Zn over 1.3m. “The hole was drilled 250 m to the SE of the San Marcial Resource Area, where the Company has been exploring the extension of the target contact between upper and lower volcanic units, which typically hosts the San Marcial Breccia Ag mineralization, together with strong ground magnetic anomalies delineated in 2021. This new, wide, high-grade silver discovery coincides with an inflexion in the NW-SE trending contact where it intersects with two key NE-SW trending faults. This defines a highly prospective target for continued drilling, both along strike and down dip”.
- Pan American Silver Corp., reported Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources as at June 30, 2022 for their Mexican properties. At La Colorada, Zacatecas the company reported proven reserves of 3.8M tonnes with average grades of 340 g/t Ag and 0.23 g/t Au for a total of 41.5M Oz Ag and 27.5K Oz Au contained, and probable reserves of 6.2M tonnes with grades of 303 g/t Ag and 0.18 g/t Au for a total of 59.9M Oz Ag and 36K Oz Au contained. The company also reported measured resources of 1.9M tonnes with grades of 216 g/t Ag and 0.14 g/t Au for a total of 13M Oz Ag and 8.2K Oz Au, indicated resources of 3.4M tonnes with grades of 191 g/t Ag and 0.17 g/t Au for a total of 20.8M Oz Ag and 18K Oz Au contained, and inferred resources of 14.9M tonnes with grades of 195 g/t Ag and 0.2 g/t Au for a total of 93.9M Oz Ag and 98.4K Oz Au contained. At Dolores, Chihuahua, probable reserves reported are 4.1M tonnes of 18 g/t Ag and 0.6 g/t Au for a total of 2.4M Oz Ag and 77.7K Oz Au contained, while inferred resources are 2.5M tonnes with grades of 29 g/t Ag and 0.92 g/t Au for a total of 2.4M Oz Ag and 74.4K Oz Au. At La Bolsa, Sonora, Pan American reported inferred resources of 13.7M tonnes with grades of 8 g/t Ag and 0.51 g/t Au for a total of 3.3M Oz Ag and 224.8K Oz Au contained. Reported mineral resources do not include amounts identified as mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have no demonstrated economic viability.
- Vizsla Silver Corp. released results from 26 new drill holes targeting the Tajitos-Copala resource area at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco project in Sinaloa. Drilling highlights include hole CS-22-191 with 133 g/t Ag and 0.48 g/t Au (158 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.39m, plus 706 g/t Ag and 4.93 g/t Au (1,011 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 12.52m, including 3,880 g/t Ag and 27.7 g/t Au (5,602 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.26m, plus 1,245 g/t Ag and 8.24 g/t Au (1,751 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.26m, plus 1,425 g/t Ag and 10.65 g/t Au (2,092 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.42m; hole CS-22-173 with 663 g/t Ag and 2.90 g/t Au (826 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 14.46m, including 1,375 g/t Ag and 7.19 g/t Au (1,796 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m, including 1,501 g/t Ag and 5.49 g/t Au (1,791 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.93m, plus 1,655 g/t Ag and 8.05 g/t Au (2,118 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.78m, plus 1,505 g/t Ag and 5.93 g/t Au (1,826 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.37m; hole CS-22-159 with 285 g/t Ag and 2.12 g/t Au (418 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 10.50m, including 493 g/t Ag and 18.3 g/t Au (1,775 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.56m, plus 1,025 g/t Ag and 4.61 g/t Au (1,285 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.71m; and hole CS-22-181 with 165 g/t Ag and 0.52 g/t Au (191 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.70m, plus 832 g/t Ag and 3.85 g/t Au (1,051 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.44m, including 1,725 g/t Ag and 11 g/t Au (2,396 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.68, plus 1,501 g/t Ag and 4.98 g/t Au (1,754 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.81m.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Prismo Metals Inc., announced that its common shares are now eligible for electronic clearing and settlement in the United States through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). It will simplify the process of trading and enhance liquidity of Prismo shares in the United States. The Company’s shares recently began trading on the OTCQB® Venture Market (“OTCQB”) under the ticker symbol PMOMF (Palos Verdes project, Sinaloa).
- Consolidated Zinc Limited made several management changes. The company announced the retirement and replacement of its non-executive Chairman, the appointment of a new member of its Board of Directors, and the appointment of its Exploration Manager. All Board changes are effective September 1, 2022 (Plomosas mine, Chihuahua).
- Advance Lithium Corp., sold its royalty on three claims in Kenya to Orogen Royalties Inc., for USD $120K and the transfer of the 100% ownership of the Sarape property, Sonora. Orogen will retain a 1.5% royalty on the Sarape property.
- Kootenay Silver Inc., amended the schedule on the final payment of its option agreement for 100% of the Columba high-grade silver project, Chihuahua. The amended agreement splits the final November 2022 payment into a series of payments due in August, November, December 2022 and January, April, and May of 2023. Payments range from USD $215K (August 2022 and May 2023) to USD $480K (November 2022) and USD $430K (December 2022, January, and April 2023).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- First Majestic Silver Corp., released its 2021 Sustainability report summarizing the Company´s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance. CEO of the company stated that their effort in 2021 demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and to improving lives and communities in our host regions while increasing shareholder value, as well as driving positive changes for society and delivering long-term benefits for all First majestic shareholders.
- Industrias Peñoles S.A.B. de C.V., and Fresnillo plc promote entrepreneurs providing tools to micro and small entrepreneurs from the communities neighboring their operations through a training and advisory program for the strengthening and creation of proudly local and Mexican companies. Both Peñoles and Fresnillo plc have given nearly 249 workshops for entrepreneurs, with the support of the social organization ProEmpleo. In parallel, the companies and the organization work on the abilities and skills of the participants who seek the continuity of their projects and reinforce them with actions to make them competitive in their local environment. To date, more than 3,800 people have benefited and 203 new companies have been created, which in turn generated 534 direct jobs; 74% of the total number of companies created continue to operate.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, a banded calcite vein with Manganese Oxides from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in Chihuahua, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico; Highlights on the First Week of August, 2022

By Jorge Cirett
During the 31st week of the year (August 1st to August 7th, 2022), at least 21 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, six companies posted exploration advances on their properties and four presented production results for the second quarter. Only one company reported on the closing of a private placement, one on the granting of incentive options to officers, directors and consultants, one on a $5 M loan facility and one in a share consolidation plan. One company filed an amended report. One company closed the sale of its Mexican properties and one more amended the option agreement of a property. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Spruce completed an RC drilling program at Diamante; Tocvan Ventures informed on drilling at Pilar. In Chihuahua, Kootenay Silver informed on drilling at Columba; Mammoth Resources presented drilling results from Tenoriba. In Zacatecas, Alien Metals updated on work at Donovan 2 and San Celso. In Oaxaca, Vortex Metals updated on exploration at Riqueza Marina and Zaachila projects. ON MINING, Coeur Mining, Torex Gold, Equinox Gold and First Majestic Silver presented financial and operational results for the second quarter 2022. ON FINANCING, Heliostat closed a private placement for $3 M. Bear Creek Mining entered into a US$5 M loan facility. Tocvan is granting incentive stock options and Ridgestone Mining is proposing consolidation of its shares. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Discovery Silver is filing an amended technical report for the Cordero project in Chihuahua. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Great Panther Mining closed the sale of its Mexican properties to Guanajuato Silver Company. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Grupo Mexico’s metallurgical complex at Nacozari, in Sonora, was granted the “Great Place to Work” certification.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- No Relevant News.
ON EXPLORATION
- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. along with Colibri Resource Corp. completed its phase 1 drilling program at the 1,057 ha Diamante project in Sonora. The 2,005 m reverse-circulation program in 19 holes, up to 135 m in depth, covered the La Prieta, and Pillado targets. “Mineralization is reported visually as pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, argentiferous galena, argentite, hematite and probable metal oxides, carbonates and sulphates, including copper carbonate (malachite), copper sulphates and plumbojarosite”.
- Vortex Metals Inc. provided an update in exploration of its Riqueza Marina and Zaachila projects in Oaxaca. The late David Jones identified this area in the early 2000’s …”Copper-gold mineralization within both the Riqueza Marina and Zaachila projects is associated with geologic processes operative in the Late Jurassic to Middle Cretaceous within a back-arc sequence of bi-modal volcanics and volcaniclastics deposited on the sea floor. Early exploration conducted by Dave Jones identified several copper and gold anomalies over a broad area but clearly associated with specific rocks, i.e. exhalite, rhyolite debris aprons or breccia. These associations prompted the identification of a geologic environment which incorporated these features. The Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) model incorporates the geologic and geochemical features observed to date”.
- Kootenay Silver Inc. informed significant progress has been made on the 15,000 m drilling campaign at Columba, in Chihuahua. The current program will test extensions of the F, D, B and JZ veins and exploratory step-outs on other prospective veins. The V vein has been traced for over 700 m of strike and 200 m of depth with an average of 2 m in width, the D vein has been hit along 430 m of strike and 340 m of depth with an average of 6.9 m in width.
- Tocvan Ventures Corp. informed that seven reverse circulation drill holes for a total of 1,382 m have been completed on the phase III drill program at Pilar, in Sonora.
- Alien Metals Ltd. updated on exploration work at its San Celso and Donovan 2 projects in Zacatecas. Three holes totaling 201 m were drilled at San Celso and four holes at Donovan 2 for 410 m. No significant intersections were returned for San Celso. At Donovan 2, a 1.87 m interval returned 0.33% Cu, although the recovery was in the 15-20% range. A weak Zn anomaly correlates with a similar zone in a previous hole.
- Mammoth Resources Corp. provided results from four holes at its Tenoriba project in Chihuahua. The four holes totaled 388.95 m brining the total to 2,623.55 m in 21 holes. Highlighted intercepts comprise 81.0 m @ 0.45 gpt Au, 2 gpt Ag (including 12.0 m @ 1.03 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag); 10.6 m @ 1.14 gpt Au, 18 gpt Ag; 30.0 m @ 0.32 gpt Au, 3 gpt Ag; 48.0 m @ 1.11 gpt Au, 7 gpt Ag (including 4.5 m @ 2.88 gpt Au, 4 gpt Ag).
ON MINING
- Coeur Mining Inc. reported second quarter 2022 financial results, including figures from its operations in Mexico. At Palmarejo, in Chihuahua, 539.6 K tonnes were milled @ 1.68 gpt Au, 125 gpt Ag, recovering 92.4% Au, 84.2% Ag, to produce 27,109 Oz Au, 1.79 M Oz Ag. Four drill rigs are to be active in the third quarter 2022 on infill drilling of the Hidalgo and Nacion zones and expansion drilling on the NW Hidalgo and La Carmela zones.
- Torex Gold Resources Inc. released financial and operating results for the second quarter 2022. During the period, 123,363 Oz Au were produced at its El Limon-Guajes project in Guerrero, at total cash cost $703 per Oz Au and AISC of $911. Construction at Media Luna (close to El Limon-Guajes), is well underway, with a physical progress of 5%, including the development of 2,100 m at the Guajes tunnel and 700 m at South Portal. At the end of the period the company had net cash of $306.3 M with no debt and an undrawn $150.0 M credit facility.
- Equinox Gold Corp. announced its second quarter 2022 financial and operating results. The report includes the sale of the Mercedes mine in Sonora to Bear Creek Mining Corp., but does not elaborate on production numbers for Mercedes or Los Filos in Guerrero, other than a guidance of 155-170 K Oz Au production from Los Filos in 2022.
- First Majestic Silver Corp. presented financial results for the second quarter 2022. During the quarter the company negotiated and signed a conclusive agreement with the Mexican tax authority (SAT) though the office of the taxpayer ombudsman (PRODECON) to settle an uncertain tax position relating to intercompany debt financing in Mexico, with a one-time payment of $21.3 M. Consolidated production in Mexico was 6.16 M Oz AgEq, as shown in the table below.

ON FINANCING
- Bear Creek Mining Corp. entered into a US$5.0 M loan facility with Auramet International LLC.. Bear Creek will sell Auramet 100% of the outrun from the Mercedes mine in Sonora until the note is paid in full and 50 K Oz thereafter (Mercedes, Sonora).
- Heliostar Metals Ltd. closed its non-brokered private placement offering for gross proceeds of $3 M (Oso Negro and El Picacho, Sonora).
- Tocvan Ventures Corp. announced the approval of the grant of 1.3 M incentive stock options to officers, directors and consultants of the company (Pilar, Sonora).
- Ridgestone Mining Inc. intends to seek shareholder approval at its upcoming annual general meeting to consolidate its commons shares in a 20 to 1 ratio. “The proposed Consolidation remains subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange”.
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Discovery Silver Corp. is filing an amended technical report on the Cordero project in Chihuahua. The phrase “the Cordero project is technically and economically viable” was removed, as “the economic analysis is a preliminary economic assessment and cannot demonstrate economic viability”. Discovery is well advanced on a pre-feasibility study (PFS) to be completed on Q4 2022, which is to outline the technical and economic viability of the project.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Great Panther Mining Ltd. closed the previously announced sale of the Guanajuato Mine Complex (Guanajuato), the Topia mine (Durango) and the El Horcón and Santa Rosa projects (Guanajuato) to Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd.. The deal comprised US$8 M in cash, plus additional cash of US$1.35 M, US$6.7 M in GSilver shares, US$500 K when Topia produces an aggregate of 2.5 M Oz Ag and US$750 K if the silver price rises above US$27.50 per Oz for a month within two years of closing, and US$750 K if the silver price closes above US$30.00 per Oz for a month within three years of closing.
- Ridgestone Mining Inc. announced the amendment of the property agreement on the Guadalupe y Calvo project in Chihuahua. The revised option agreement with Endeavour Silver extends the cash, share and work commitments of year 2 from February 2023 to March 2024, that of year 3 from February 2024 to March 2025 and that of year 4 from February 2025 to March 2026.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Grupo Mexico’s metallurgical complex in Nacozari, Sonora, obtained the certificate “Great Place to Work”. The certification is recognized in more than 60 countries.
On the image below: Quartz-specularite veining on a project in the Sonoran Desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fifth Week of March, 2022

By Jorge Cirett
During the 13th week of the year (March 28th to April 3rd, 2022), at least 32 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, five companies posted exploration advances on their properties, three released quarterly and full year 2021 reports, one informed on the end of a strike and one declared commercial production. One announced the granting of stock options, three updated on project work, three reported drill results on their advanced properties, two released new resource estimates. ON MEXICO ISSUES, three of the top eight silver intercepts on the fifth week of March were obtained by companies working in Mexico. For the quarter, four of the top ten silver intercepts were from projects in Mexico. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Tocvan Ventures provided drill results on the Pilar project; Infinitum Copper commenced drilling at Adelita; Silver Spruce had the preventive report approved for drilling at Jackie. In Zacatecas, Galore Resources informed on drilling at Dos Santos project. In Nayarit, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver released additional trenching results at La Tigra. ON MINING, SilverCrest Metals, Excellon Resources and Mag Silver released quarterly and full year 2021 reports. Excellon Resources informed the strike on its Platosa mine in Durango was terminated. Orla Mining initiated commercial production at Camino Rojo, in Zacatecas. ON FINANCING, Inomin Mines granted stock options to director and a contractor. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexus Gold informed partner company Irmex is modelling the Mabel deposit in Sonora. Solaris Resources is preparing exploration work at La Verde, in Michoacan. Vizsla Silver reported drill results at Panuco, in Sinaloa. Prime Mining delivered drill results from Los Reyes, in Sinaloa. Discovery Silver released results from 17 holes at Cordero, Chihuahua. Torex Gold presented results of the updated technical report on the Morelos Complex in Guerrero. First Majestic Silver presented 2021 resource estimates for its properties. Silver Valley Metals updated on its potassium-lithium salars in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Tamino Minerals is triggering a securities fraud probe. Huntington Exploration acquired the El Grande project in Nayarit. Xali Gold ratified the agreement on the tailings with El Oro Municipality in Estado de Mexico. Prime Meridian Resource updated on the purchase of La Verde project in Sonora. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, no relevant news.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- Of the top eight silver intersects released on the fifth week of March, three were by companies working in Mexico, according to Miner Deck. Discovery Silver was first with 45.6 m @ 125 gpt Ag at Cordero in Chihuahua, Vizsla Silver was sixth 2.75 m @ 322 gpt Ag at Panuco, in Sinaloa, and Prime Mining was eighth with 42.7 m @ 43 gpt Ag at Los Reyes, in Sinaloa.
- According to Miner Deck, of the top ten silver intersects released on Q1 2022, four were by companies working in Mexico. Pan American Silver was fourth with 322.9 m @ 64 gpt Ag at La Colorada Skarn in Zacatecas, GoGold Resources was fifth with 25.7 m @ 776 gpt Ag at Los Ricos, in Jalisco; Silver Tiger was eight with 25.9 m @ 687 gpt Ag at El Tigre, in Sonora and Radius Gold was tenth with 96 m @ 167 gpt Ag at Amalia, in Chihuahua.
ON EXPLORATION
- Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. announced additional results from the ongoing trenching program at La Tigra, in Nayarit. Highlighted intervals comprise 6.1 m @ 0.98 gpt Au; 24.2 m @ 1.59 gpt Au (including 4.7 m @ 5.58 gpt Au); 22.9 m @ 1.78 gpt Au, 6 gpt Ag; 6.6 m @ 3.42 gpt Au.
- Galore Resources Inc. provided a drilling update of Los Gemelos, at its Dos Santos project in Zacatecas. Three holes have been finished on the San José area, showing recrystallized limestone, dikes and sills of intermediate composition with phyllic and argillic alteration, multiple bodies with hydroxides, hematite, calcite, and local sulfides and quartz, and hydrothermal breccia cemented by calcite and iron oxides. ”The mineralization is repetitive that is concentrated as veins, veins and stratabound bodies, hosted between the carbonate marine sedimentary sequence and the cupula of an unexhumed pluton….”.
- Tocvan Ventures Corp. provided results for the three first holes of the phase III drilling campaign at Pilar, in Sonora. Highlighted drill-length intervals comprise 33.3 m @ 0.63 gpt Au (including 21.7 m @ 0.94 gpt Au) and 5.5 m @ 0.64 gpt Au, 10 gpt Ag in core holes and 6.1 m @ 0.51 gpt Au, 8 gpt Ag in a reverse circulation hole.
- Infinitum Copper Corp. commenced diamond drilling at La Adelita project in Sonora and Sinaloa. The program envisages a total of 9,000 m of drilling in two phases, with phase I consisting of 3,000 m targeting areas within and adjacent to the existing mineralized zones, and some drilling on new zones like Cerro Grande footwall, Pericos and Las Trancas Sur. A magneto-telluric geophysical is underway, and is expected to aid in targeting.
- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. informed the approval by SEMARNAT (environmental agency) of the preventive report for the 1,130 hectares Jackie project in Sonora. “Exploration plans were submitted for a 500-1,000-metre trenching program followed by an initial 1,000-2,000-metre reverse circulation drill program”.
ON MINING
- SilverCrest Metals Inc. reported the financial results for the year 2021. At the end of the year construction progress at Las Chispas in Sonora was 86.2%, slightly ahead of schedule. Since 2019 over 17.5 km of underground development has been completed at Las Chispas, and during last year 114,143 m of drilling were completed, mostly as infill holes. At El Picacho, 40 km north of Las Chispas, 80,700 m of drilling were completed in 2021. At the end of the period the SilverCrest held cash and cash equivalents of $176.5 M, and $30 M remaining under a $120 M financing facility.
- Excellon Resources Inc. posted financial results for Q4 and full year 2021. During the year, 85.5 K tonnes were mined, 86.0 K tonnes milled @ 494 gpt Ag, 5.01% Pb, 6.03% Zn, recovering 90.5% Ag, 78.5% Pb, 83.7% Zn, to produce 1.22 M Oz Ag, 7.61 M Lb Pb, 9.01 M Lb Zn (2.02 M Oz AgEq). Cash cost was $13.01 per Oz Ag and AISC $26.78 per Ag Oz. “current mining is entering an area of the deposit that steepens significantly, with fewer vertical-tonnes-per-metre than historically encountered…. the Company currently expects to wind down operations at Platosa during Q3 2022, subject to results from ongoing exploration programs” (Note by editor.- Although high-grade, Platosa seems to be at the end of its mine life due to a combination of deeper ores and high de-watering costs).
- Excellon Resources Inc. announced on April 1, 2022 the resolution of the labor action initiated on March 7 by the Sindicato Nacional Minero Metalúrgico (Miner’s Union) at its Platosa mine in Durango.
- Mag Silver Corp. presented its financial results for year 2021. The 4,000 tpd Juanicipio (56% Fresnillo PLC, 44% Mag Silver) plant was delivered to plant commissioning late in Q4, but due to regulatory approval commissioning was extended to Q2 2022. It is expected the plant to be working 85% to 90% of capacity by late 2022. Processing of mineralized headings from Juanicipio continues at the nearby Fresnillo plant and has begun to be processed at the Saucito facilities; Processing rates have increased from 38 K tonnes per month in Q4 to 45 K tonnes on the first two months of 2022. During 2021, 251.9 K tonnes from Juanicipio were processed, averaging 470 gpt Ag, to produce 2.97 M Oz Ag, 5,975 Oz Au, 1,065 tonnes Pb, 1,519 tonnes Zn. According to Juanicipio operator, Fresnillo PLC, the project construction is expected to be delivered on budget at $440 M. As of end of 2021 Mag held cash of $56.7 M.
- Orla Mining Ltd. declared commercial production at the Camino Rojo Oxide mine in Zacatecas. “The declaration of commercial production at Camino Rojo comes after a successful commissioning period which included the ramp up of mining and processing to sustained throughput levels in excess of 75% of designed nameplate capacity of 18,000 tonnes per day”.
ON FINANCING
- Inomin Mines Inc. informed 350 K stock options were granted to director and a contractor of the company (La Gitana, Oaxaca).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Mexus Gold US. informed that its partner at the Mabel project in Sonora, Irmex, “has been working on modelizing the Mexus data including the 611 core and RC holes previously carried out by Pacific Comox before acquisition by Mexus Gold”. To date Irmex has calculated a volume of 184.4 K tonnes @ 1.15 gpt Au, 76 gpt Ag, but work continues to increase the resource. Signature of the definitive agreement is planned for late April 2022.
- Solaris Resources Inc. is planning more exploration work to advance its La Verde project (60% Solaris, 40% Teck) in Michoacan. The work envisaged includes the possible extensions of higher-grade ore. A spin-off company, Solaris Exploration, probably will continue with the work on La Verde, while Solaris Resources focus in Ecuador.
- Vizsla Silver Corp. reported results from 53 holes on the Napoleon vein corridor at Panuco, in Sinaloa. The mineralized zone has been extended 350 m, which takes the total length of the corridor to 2,500 m. Highlighted true-width intervals comprise 4.00 m @ 55 gpt Ag, 20.38 gpt Au, 0.2% Pb, 3.0% Zn and 9.42 m @ 85 gpt Ag, 2.73 gpt Au, 0.9% Pb, 4.1% Zn (including 2.17 m @ 85 gpt Ag, 7.91 gpt Au, 1.2% Pb, 7.4% Zn) on the Napoleon vein, 2.7 m @ 746 gpt Ag, 6.27 gpt Au, 0.7% Pb, 2.9% Zn on the Napoleon hanging wall vein and 0.47 m @ 17 gpt Ag, 60.5 gpt Au, 0.4% Pb, 1.4% Zn at the Josephine vein.
- Prime Mining Corp. released results from the phase II drill program on El Zapote Sur, one of eight ore deposits, at its Los Reyes project in Sinaloa. Highlighted true-width intervals comprise 27.4 m @ 2.38 gpt Au, 43 gpt Ag; 5.8 m @ 7.75 gpt Au, 57 gpt Ag; 3.9 m @ 2.68 gpt Au, 15 gpt Ag; 5.6 m @ 2.91 gpt Au, 41 gpt Ag; 4.3 m @ 2.73 gpt Au, 23 gpt Ag; 8.8 m @ 1.49 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 2.3 m @ 7.10 gpt Au, 20 gpt Ag; 5.3 m @ 1.92 gpt Au, 42 gpt Ag; 18.2 m @ 1.09 gpt Au, 32 gpt Ag. Currently nine rigs are operating at Los Reyes, having completed 30,000 m (in 106 holes) of the planned 50,000 m program. “Mineralization at Zapote South consists primarily of white to grey crystalline to chalcedonic quartz, quartz breccia and stockwork ….. fault structures within or along the margins of rhyolite dykes …… Quartz is massive to crustiform, locally displaying colliform to bladed replacement textures. Higher-grade intervals are marked by finely banded green adularia”.
- Discovery Silver Corp. informed on results from 17 holes from the phase 2 drilling program at Cordero, in Chihuahua. Highlighted core-length intervals comprise 45.6 m @ 125 gpt Ag, 0.54 gpt Au, 2.0% Pb, 2.7% Zn (328 gpt AgEq); 177.4 m @ 27 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 1.1% Zn (74 gpt AgEq); 44.5 m @ 20 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.1% Pb, 2.2% Zn (106 gpt AgEq) outside the current resource, 38.6 m @ 91 gpt Ag, 0.11 gpt Au, 1.3% Pb, 1.3% Zn (189 gpt AgEq) beneath the PEA pit and 32.3 m @ 70 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.8% Pb, 1.0% Zn (142 gpt AgEq); 17.7 m @ 68 gpt Au, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.3% Pb, 0.4% Zn on the margins of the PEA pit. “This current set of results was predominantly targeting the expansion of the open pit and the resource in the northeast of the deposit”.
- Torex Gold Resources Inc. presented the results of the updated technical report on its Morelos Complex in Guerrero. The Morelos Complex has a baseline cumulative cash flow of $1,418 M and after-tax (NPV 5%) of $1,040 M, while the Media Luna (ML) projects presents an after-tax NPV(5%) of $458 M. Life of mine (LOM) estimated at 11.5 years, commencing in April 2022, with an annualized production of 374 K Oz AuEq at total cash cost $809 per Oz AuEq and AISC of $954 per Oz AuEq. Total mineral reserves of 5.123 M Oz AuEq @ 3.90 gpt AuEq.

- First Majestic Silver Corp. announced its 2021 mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates for the company’s properties, including figures from its operations in Mexico. In its three Mexican mines (San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena/Ermitaño in Sonora and La Encantada in Coahuila), the company holds 63 M Oz Ag, 879 K Oz Au in the proven and probable categories (included in resources), as well as 111 M Oz Ag, 1.28 M Oz Au in the measured and indicated resource categories and 75 M Oz Ag, 829 K Oz Au in the inferred resource category.

- Silver Valley Metals Corp. updated on its potassium-lithium salars in Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi. “it is in advanced discussions and under NDA’s with several well financed and highly technical groups ……… All options remain open for the Company, including a direct investment into the Company itself and the Company moving the project forward, to a joint venture, to a spin out of the asset, to a buy-out of the entire asset”. The inferred resource on the properties comprise 243 K tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and 12.3 M tonnes of sulphate potash in 120 M tonnes @ 4.6% K, 380 ppm Li.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Tamino Minerals Inc. informed it is planning to trigger a Securities Fraud Probe against whomever results responsible of highly unusual “market activity witnessed during the last several months” (El Volcan, Sonora).
- Huntington Exploration Inc. completed the acquisition of Lago de Oro S.A. de C.V. and its 550 square km El Grande gold project in Nayarit. A definitive agreement was reached to purchase all shares of the holding company for a cash payment of US$500 K, issuing 4 M shares of the company, a 2% NSR to the vendor and milestone payments on resources above 500 K Oz Au backed by NI-43-101 technical reports, capped at 20 M shares.
- Xali Gold Corp. announced the ratification of the tailings and tourism agreements with the El Oro Municipality on El Oro tailings project in Estado de Mexico. “Renewing the Tailings Agreement is the final item required for Sun River Gold Corp (“Sun River”), who have the option to acquire 100% of the Tailings Project from Xali’s subsidiary…. The Tailings Agreement provides Xali Gold with the right to recover all available gold and silver from the tailings deposit and pay to the Municipality of El Oro an 8% Net Profits Interest”.
- Prime Meridian Resources Corp. updated on the option to purchase La Verde project in Sonora. Prime Meridian (PMR) formed the Mexican subsidiary Sonoran Copper, S.A. de C.V. and reserved the new company’s new name Sonoran Desert Corporation. PMR has to make a US$200 K payment on Exchange approval, and a further US$200 K payment on late February 2023. Also, Cdn$3.75 M in shares of PMR prior to the first anniversary, and Cdn$2.5 M of PMR shares on the second anniversary. A 2% NSR on production from skarn mineralization will be retained by the vendor, and a 2% NSR on production from porphyry mineralization, with PMR having the right to buy 1% for US$1 M.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- No Relevant News.
On the image below: Epidote bearing porphyritic rock from a project in the Sonoran desert. Picture by Jorge Cirett.

The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of March, 2022. 
By Miguel A Heredia
During the 10th week of the year (March 7th to March 13th, 2022), at least 20 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico, and 3 news published by the media, with nine reporting resources and developments of their properties, four informing on exploration results, four communicating production and financial results, three discussing social issues, two announcing financial issues, and one disclosing deals and corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, In Sonora, Silver Spruce filed environmental permits to drill at their the Diamante, Mezquite and Jackie projects. In Durango, Canasil provided a review of the results from its 2020-21 drill program on the Candy Vein at its Nora project and Silver Wolf provided a 2021 year in review and 2022 outlook on its Ana Maria property. ON MINING, Endeavour reported consolidated full year 2021 production and financial results from their mining operations in México. First Majestic announced Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. Gatos Silver presented Q4 and 2021 year-end production and financial results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua, and provided a corporate update. Gold Resource provided Q4 and year-end 2021 production and financial results from its Don David Gold mine in Oaxaca. ON FINANCING, Argonaut sold 9.74M of common shares of Magna Gold for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6.82M. Kootenay closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4.78M and a non-brokered portion of the offering for gross proceeds of approximately $1.47M, for total aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $6.25M (Columba project, Chihuahua). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Altaley announced positive Pre-Feasibility Study and updated Mineral Resources and Reserves at its Tahuehueto project, Durango. Capitan Mining released results from its ongoing RC drilling program at its Cruz de Plata project (former referred as Peñoles) in Durango. Magna Gold released results from the first 22 of 43 drill holes completed at its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Prime Mining reported results from its ongoing drilling program at its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Avino announced drill results from the La Potosina area at its Avino project, Durango. Azucar Minerals reported that it will commence to drill test a new large lithocap alteration at its El Cobre project, Veracruz. Barksdale released results from its phase I, 5,000m drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone on its San Javier project, Sonora. Vizsla reported results from seven new drill holes collared on the Copala and Christiano veins within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Ranchero Gold announced the appointments of two new members to its Board of Directors (Santa Daniela project, Sonora). Fabled announced that it has completed the planning of its phase 2 definition diamond drill program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Fresnillo plc reported the return to face-to-face work in the state, and the opening of its outdoor activities. Grupo Mexico, within the framework of the International Mother Language Day, held activities related to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the communities where it has a presence. Media Luna Mining Company (Torex Gold) ratified for the sixth consecutive year the collaboration agreement with fishing cooperatives in the Balsas River Basin in Guerrero.
ON MEXICO ISSUE
- No relevant news.
ON EXPLORATION
- Silver Spruce Resources Inc., filed environmental permits with the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SEMARNAT) to drill at their the Diamante, Mezquite and Jackie projects in Sonora. Approvals from SEMARNAT are expected to be obtained by late March, 2022.
- Canasil Resources Inc., provided a review of the results from its 2020-21 drill program on the Candy Vein at its Nora project. 13 drill holes were completed for a total of 3,296m to test the Candy vein over a strike distance of 500m and to a vertical depth of 250m below surface. All the holes encountered the mineralized vein with the highest true width x grade value on hole NRE-21-11 with 5.31 g/t Au and 336 g/t Ag (748 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 11.29m, giving a TW x grade value of 8,445 g/t AgEq x m. The drill results show that the Candy vein hosts consistently high grade gold and silver mineralization over appreciable widths. The Candy vein is known over 3km long but only 500m have been drill tested. Additionally, Canasil reported that systematic grid soil sampling over a 2km east-west and 3km north-south area covering the central zone of the project returned widespread silver, gold, copper, zinc and lead geochemical anomalies. “The gold and silver anomalies are particularly strong over the 3-Km strike extent of the Candy vein structure on the western side of the project area, as well as to the southwest and east of the Candy vein structure. A strong silver and gold anomaly also extends for 1.5 Km southwest from the location of the above high grade drill intercepts on the Candy vein and a breccia target has been identified to the south with potential for hosting bulk tonnage disseminated silver-gold mineralization”.
- Silver Wolf Exploration Ltd., provided a 2021 year in review and 2022 outlook on its Ana Maria property in Durango. The accomplished goals on 2021 include the completion of a NI-43-101 compliant technical report on the properties; an Aster satellite imaging survey, an airborne LiDAR and Hyperspectral imaging survey, an Airborne geophysical data survey, the application to expand the land package by 3x, and the completion of the 2021 mapping and sampling program to identify prospective areas and uncover previous historical workings. The company also provided a 2022 outlook that include the completion of the geophysical data interpretation, to define drill targets for the initial drill program, to apply and receive drill permits, to mobilize drilling equipment to execute an initial drill program, and to receive approval from the Mexican authorities on the expanded land application.
ON MINING
- Endeavour Silver Corp., reported consolidated full year 2021 production and financial results from their mining operations in México. The company mined 887,424 tonnes to produce 4.87M Oz Ag, and 42.3K Oz Au at a cash cost of USD $9.31 per Oz Ag, a total production cost of USD $14.70 per Oz Ag, and all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $20.34 per Oz Ag. Endeavor sold 3.86 M Oz Ag and 39.1K Oz Au and reported revenues of USD $165.3M, adjust net earnings of USD $(-8.6M), mine operating earnings of USD $36.4M, EBIDTA of USD $54.9M, and working capital of USD $121.2M.
- First Majestic Silver Corp., announced Q4 and full year 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican mine operations. The below tables show the figures per separate mine for Q4, and full year 2021.


First Majestic reported consolidated financial results (including Jerritt Canyon mine in USA). It reported revenues of USD $204.9M and USD $584.1M respectively for the periods Q4, and full year 2021; mine operating earnings of USD $40.4M and USD $101.4M respectively; loss earnings of USD $4M and USD $4.9M respectively; operating cash flows before working capital and taxes of USD $71.8M and USD $176.8M respectively; cash and cash equivalents of USD $237.9M in each period; working capital of USD $224.4M in each period; and free cash flow of USD $66.4M and USD ($16.9M) for Q4 and full year 2021 respectively.
- Gatos Silver Inc., presented Q4 and 2021 year-end production and financial results from its 70% owned Cerro Los Gatos operation in Chihuahua, and provided a corporate update. On Q4, 2021, the company milled 241,397 tonnes of 331 g/t Ag, 0.3 g/t Au, 2.2% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 90%, 63%, 91% and 73% respectively, to produce 2.3M Oz Ag, 1.3K Oz Au, 10.2M Lb Pb, and 12.9M Lb Zn. Average realized price per Oz Ag, Oz Au, Lb Pb, and Lb Zn were USD $23.08, USD $1,804, USD $1.04, and USD $1.58 respectively. For the full year, Gatos milled 909,886 tonnes of 295 g/t Ag, 0.32 g/t Au, 2.3% Pb, and 3.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 88%, 63%, 90% and 73% respectively, to produce 7.6M Oz Ag, 5.2K Oz Au, 39.8M Lb Pb, and 49.6M Lb Zn. Average realized price per Oz Ag, Oz Au, Lb Pb, and Lb Zn were USD $24.51, USD $1,804, USD $0.99, and USD $1.36 respectively. The company reported exploration expenses, operating costs and sales for the period Q4, 2021 of USD $0.3 , USD $3.8M, and USD &72.9M respectively, while for the full year 2021 of USD $1.7, USD $19.3M, and USD $251.2M respectively. Gatos provided its 2022 guidance and expects to produce between 8.5- 9M Oz Ag, 4-4.5K Oz Au, 36-40M Lb Pb, and 49-54M Lb Zn at AISC of USD $16.5-18.5 per payable silver on Co-product basis and USD $13-15 per payable silver on by-product basis.
- Gold Resource Corporation provided Q4 and year-end 2021 production and financial results from its Don David Gold mine in Oaxaca. On Q4, 2021 the company milled 135,398 tonnes of 1.93 g/t Au, 82 g/t Ag, 0.38% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 4.8% Zn to produce 1.8K Oz Au, 287.8K Oz Ag, 907.2K Lb Cu, 4.6M Lb Pb, and 9.33M Lb Zn at average metal prices realized of USD $1,811 per Oz Au, USD $23.51 per Oz Ag, USD $9,768 per tonne of Cu, usd $2,339 per tonne of Pb, and USD $3,446 per tonne of Zn. On the full year 2021, Gatos milled 501,978 tonnes of 2.01 g/t Au, 80 g/t Ag, 0.39% Cu, 1.9% Pb, and 4.4% Zn to produce 22.6K Oz Au, 1.06M Oz Ag, 3.18M Lb Cu, 13-4M Lb Pb, and 30.3M Lb Zn at average metal prices realized of USD $1,796 per Oz Au, USD $25.06 per Oz Ag, USD $9,553 per tonne of Cu, USD $2,268 per tonne of Pb, and USD $3,091 per tonne of Zn. On Q4, 2021, the company reported sales for USD $38.6M, EBIDTA of USD $10.3M, and operating cost of USD $12.9M, while on the full year 2021 it reported USD $125.2M, USD $33.64M, and USD $34.78M respectively.
ON FINANCING
- Argonaut Gold Inc., sold 9.74M of common shares of Magna Gold at a price of CAD $0.70 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD $6.82M.
- Kootenay Silver Inc., closed a brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $4.78M and a non-brokered portion of the offering for gross proceeds of approximately $1.47M, for total aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $6.25M. Gross proceeds will be used for exploration activities, working capital and other general corporate purposes (Columba project, Chihuahua).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Altaley Mining Corporation announced positive Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and updated Mineral Resources and Reserves at its Tahuehueto project, Durango. Highlights of the PFS include a throughput of 1,000 tonnes per day; a mine life of 10.9 years; a pre-tax net cash flow of USD $240.9M; a total capital cost of USD $56.9M; an all in sustaining cost (AISC) of USD $844 per Oz AuEq; a pre-tax Net Present Value (VNP) of USD $152.8M at 5% discount rate; an EBIDTA of USD $246.1M, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 45%. The company also updated Mineral Resources and Reserves. It reported Proven+ Probable Reserves of 3.58M tonnes grading 2.55 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 1.1% Pb, and 1.9% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 87%, 85%, 85%, 85% and 68& respectively to contain 294K Oz Au, 5.7M Oz Ag, 20.55M Lb Cu, 87.36M Lb Pb, and 151.6M Lb Zn. Altaley also reported Measured +Indicated Resources of 6.26M tonnes grading 2.11 g/t Au, 47 g/t Ag, 0.27% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 2% Zn (4.47 g/t AuEq) to contain 415K Oz Au, 9.4M Oz Ag, 36.6M Lb Cu, 123.9M Lb Pb, and 273.3M Lb Zn (900K Oz AuEq); and Indicated Resources of 918K tonnes grading 1.02 g/t Au, 29 g/t Ag, 0.15% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 2% Zn (3.05 g/t AuEq) to contain 30K Oz Au, 840K Oz Ag, 3M Lb Cu, 23.5M Lb Pb, and 39.7M Lb Zn (90K Oz AuEq).
- Capitan Mining Inc., released results from its ongoing RC drilling program at its Cruz de Plata project (former referred as Peñoles) in Durango. Hole 21-JMRC03 drilled on Jesus Maria Vein system returned 0.37 g/t Au, 177 g/t Ag, 3.2% Pb, and 3.6% Zn (435 g/t AgEq) over 10.7m, including 0.71 g/t Au, 290 g/t Ag, 6.8% Pb, 6.6% Zn (798 g/t AgEq) over 11.5m, including 0.45 g/t Au, 258 g/t Ag, 4.7% Pb, and 5% Zn (620 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.27 g/t Au, 370 g/t Ag, 5.6% Pb, and 8% Zn (860 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.55 g/t Au, 122 g/t Ag, 2.6% Pb, and 3% Zn (358 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m, including 0.51 g/t Au, 281 g/t Ag, 5.9% Pb, and 3.8% Zn (641 g/t AgEq) over 1.5m. Assays are still pending for 11 RC holes out of 15 completed.
- Magna Gold Corp., released results from the first 22 of 43 drill holes completed at its Margarita project in Chihuahua. Drill highlights include hole MAR-21-002 with 139 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb and 0.6% Zn over 46.8m, including 801 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over 2.85m; hole MAR-21-004 with 113 g/t Ag, 0.03% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 32.55m, including 300 g/t Ag, 0.6% Pb, and 0.2% Zn over 6m; hole MAR-21-005 with 133 g/t Ag, 0.05% Pb and 0.2% Zn over 39.5m, including 540 g/t Ag, 0.01% Pb, and 0.4% Zn over 1.85m, and 301 g/t Ag, 0.06% Pb, and 0.1% Zn over 5.1m; hole MAR-21-016 with 157 g/t Ag, 0.5% Pb, and 1.1% Zn over 29.5m, including 0.31 g/t Au, 821 g/t Ag, 2.4% Pb, and 5.6% Zn over 3.9m; hole MAR-21-020 with 156 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.5% Zn over 55.95m, including 498 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.6% Zn over 12.8m;and hole MAR-21-022 with 127 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.3% Zn over 19.2m, including 0.3 g/t Au, 567 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 1.4% Zn over 3.55m, and 110 g/t Ag, 0.4% Pb, and 0.6% Zn over 16.55m, including 0.18 g/t Au, 440 g/t Ag, 1.6% Pb, and 1.8% Zn over 3m. Magna plans to release a maiden resource toward the end of the Q1, 2022. This resource estimate will lead to the completion of the first ever preliminary economic assessment (PEA) shortly thereafter.
- Prime Mining Corp., reported results from its ongoing drilling program at Guadalupe East on its Los Reyes project, Sinaloa. Hole 22GE-33 intersected multiple mineralized intervals. This hole intersected 11.60 g/t Au and 219 g/t Ag over a true width (TW) of 1.20m, then a 3.7m stope, to continue with 3.33 g/t Au and 115 g/t Ag over a TW of 29.29m, including 2.68 g/t Au, and 93 g/t Ag over a TW of 6.10m, and including 6.57 g/t Au and 137 g/t Ag over a TW of 9m, including 30.9 g/t Au and 605 g/t Ag over a TW of 1.20m, and including 3.67 g/t Au and 204 g/t Ag over a TW of 10.40m, including 8.39 g/t Au and 321 g/t Ag over a TW of 2.10m. This hole is located on the west side of the Guadalupe East conceptual open pit. There are currently 15 pending drill holes at Guadalupe East out of a total of 49 completed.
- Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd., announced drill results from its 2,400m drilling program conducted in 2021 on the La Potosina area at its Avino project, Durango. Highlights include hole LP-21-06 with 0.09 g/t Au, 270 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 0.9% Pb, and 2.5% Zn (463 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.7m, including 0.09 g/t Au, 1,257 g/t Ag, 0.48% Cu, 2.8% Pb, and 4.4% Zn (1,641 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.20m, including 0.08 g/t Au, 510 g/t Ag, 0.6% Cu, 2.2% Pb, and 5% Zn (918 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.35m, including 0.07 g/t Au, 406 g/t Ag, 0.44% Cu, 1.3% Pb, and 4.2% Zn (717 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.45m; and hole LP-21-007 with 0.4 g/t Au, 617 g/t Ag, 0.1% Pb, and 0.2% Zn (668 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.87m. On 2022, Avino plans include an additional 40 holes with 6,000m of drilling to test the continuity of the vein at elevations above 2,100m while looking for favorable dilation structures in the northwest.
- Azucar Minerals Ltd., reported that it will commence to drill test a new large lithocap alteration at its El Cobre project, Veracruz. A mineral mapping study conducted on this area defined a strong alteration signature interpreted to reflect the surface zoning of an underlying porphyry body.
- Barksdale Resources Corp., released results from its phase I, 5,000m drilling program at the Cerro Verde zone on its San Javier project, Sonora. Drilling highlights include hole SJ21-31 with 0.05% Cu and 1.11 g/t Au over 36m, including 0.03% Cu and 1.71 g/t Au over 15m, and 0.06% Cu and 1.89 g/t Au over 3m, plus 0.54% Cu over 48m, including 1.35% Cu over 6m; and hole SJ21-35 with 0.24% Cu over 6m, plus 0.22% Cu over 12m, plus 0.35% Cu over 15m. Drilling results confirmed and expanded the footprint of the Cerro Verde Zone.
- Fabled Silver Gold Corp., announced that it has completed the planning of its phase 2 definition diamond drill program at its Santa Maria project in Chihuahua as well as a plan to drill test other structures in the property. This second phase will consist of a minimum of 5,000m for definition drilling, and drill test possible structural dilation zones on the Northeast and secondary mineralized structures, identified after performing a property wide mapping & sampling as well as an structural interpretation. “Once the field work and observations have been completed the phase 2 exploration first priority drill targets will be defined in the coming weeks”.
- Vizsla Silver Corp., reported results from seven new drill holes collared on the Copala and Christiano veins within its Panuco project in Sinaloa. Drill highlights include hole CS-21-116 with 97 g/t Ag and 0.55 g/t Au (141 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 2.4m, and 1,559 g/t Ag and 7.29 g/t Au (2,142 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 7.81m, including 2,728 g/t Ag and 13.10 g/t Au (3,775 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.60m, and 1,531 g/t Ag and 6.94 g/t Au (2,086 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.14m; hole CS-21-123 with 248 g/t Ag and 2.03 g/t Au (410 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 14.45m, including 1,237 g/t Ag and 10.53 g/t Au (2,078 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.09m, and including 197 g/t Ag and 1.45 g/t Au (312 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.68m; hole CS-21-115 with 1,900 g/t Ag and 11.09 g/t Au (2,787 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.21m; and hole CS-21-112 with 682 g/t Ag and 5.51 g/t Au (1,122 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.73m, including 973 g/t Ag and 7.97 g/t Au (1,610 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.1m. The Copala Vein has now been tested with 17 holes with mineralization open in all directions.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Ranchero Gold Corp., announced the appointments of two new members to its Board of Directors, and the addition of Ken Balleweg to its Technical Advisory team (Santa Daniela project, Sonora).
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Fresnillo plc reported the return to face-to-face work in the state, and the opening of its outdoor activities, taking into account the hygiene and healthy distance measures promoted by the health authorities, as well as the presentation of the vaccination certificate for access the corresponding facilities. For Fresnillo plc, physical activation represents one of the stronger pillars for the people development.
- Grupo Mexico, within the framework of the International Mother Language Day, held activities related to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages in the communities where it has a presence.
- Media Luna Mining Company (Torex Gold) ratified for the sixth consecutive year the collaboration agreement with fishing cooperatives in the Balsas River Basin in Guerrero. F is the second most important economic activity in the mining corridor, so the commitment is to help to consolidate economic activities in the communities.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, malachite after chalcopyrite in a hydrothermal breccia from an intermediate sulphidation epithermal vein system in Durango, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Second Week of August, 2021.

By Miguel A Heredia
During the 32nd week of the year (August 9th to August 15th, 2021), at least 22 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico and 2 news published by the media, with eight reporting resources and developments of their properties, seven communicating production and financial results, four informing on exploration results, two announcing financial topics,, one disclosing deal and corporate issues, one commenting on Mexican issues and one discussing social issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, According to World Bank Data, Mexico continued to dominate world silver production last year, despite a 9.5% drop on the previous year. ON EXPLORATION, In Durango, Canasil released results from the first drill hole of its 2020 follow up drill program collared at its Nora project, and Mithril presented drilling results, extending the El Refugio high-grade “clavo” zone 80m further east. In Zacatecas, Zacatecas Silver announced it has received drilling permits for their El Panuco and San Gil projects. In the State of Mexico, Xali has identified new drill targets at its El Oro-Tlalpujahua mining district. ON MINING, Gatos Silver reported Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. Argonaut announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. Endeavour presented Q2, 2021 consolidated financial results from their Mexican operations. GoGold reported Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. Guanajuato Silver announced that it began stockpiling mineralized material from its El Cubo mine in Guanajuato. Pan American reported Q2, 2021 production and financial results from their La Colorada and Dolores mines in Zacatecas and Chihuahua respectively. Sierra Metals announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from their Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. ON FINANCING, Magna provided an update to its previously announced non-brokered private placement of CAD $10M convertible debentures (San Francisco mine, Sonora). Southern Silver provided exercise instructions for warrants dated September 11, 2020 (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango). ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Barksdale commenced a 5,000m Phase 1 drilling program at its San Javier project in Sonora. Azucar Minerals provided an update for its El Cobre project in Veracruz. Gatos Silver reported drilling results from its definitional drilling at its Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua. Gold Resource confirmed the up-dip extension of the Switchback Vein system and has also intersected additional mineralization outside of the current mining area (Don David Gold mine, Oaxaca). Osisko provided an update of the activities carried out in 2021 at its San Antonio project, Sonora. Pan American reported its estimated mineral reserves and resources as of June 30, 2021 at their La Colorada, Dolores, and La Bolsa deposits in Zacatecas, Chihuahua, and Sonora respectively. SilverCrest provided an update on its Las Chispas mine construction in Sonora. Southern Silver released assay results from its ongoing drilling program at its Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Excellon provided an update on litigation in respect of the La Antigua mineral concession (Evolution property, Zacatecas). ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Alamos Gold has allocated MXP $400M in environmental investment at its la Yaqui Grande mining project in Sonora.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- According to World Bank Data, Mexico continued to dominate world silver production last year, despite a 9.5% drop on the previous year. Mexico produced 5,541 tonnes of silver, followed by China with 3,443 tonnes, and by Peru with 2,991 tonnes. Global production of silver totaled 25,516 tonnes last year, a 3.7% decrease compared to 2019, largely due to COVID-19 restrictions which required several major silver producers to temporarily halt production. “Mexico´s Fresnillo plc, the world´s largest silver producing company, said mine extraction of the metal has shown a steady decline since 2015”.
ON EXPLORATION
- Canasil Resources Inc., released results from the first drill hole of its 2020 follow up drill program collared at its Nora project. Highlights of the hole NRC-21-09 drilled on the Candy Vein include 20.59 g/t Au and 1,290 g/t Ag (2,783 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 1.53m, including 43.7 g/t Au and 1,290 g/t Ag (4,458 g7t AgEq) over a TW of 0.63m; plus 6.44 g/t Au and 884 g/t Ag (1,355 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 3.29m on the Candy hanging wall structure, including 8.45 g/t Au and 1,021 g/t Ag (1,634 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.84m, including 15.6g/t Au and 561 g/t Ag (1,692 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.50m; plus 2.76 g/t Au and 250 g/t Ag (450 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.71m on the Candy foot wall structure, including 6.19 g/t Au and 319 g/t Ag (768 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.90m. The high gold and silver grades and relatively low base metal values suggest the upper levels of the system which is open to depth.
- Mithril Resources Ltd., presented drilling results, extending the El Refugio high-grade “clavo” zone 80m further east. High-grade was intercepted in hole CDH-079 with 7.60 g/t Au and 332 g/t Ag over 12.4m, including 18.1 g/t Au and 810 g/t Ag over 4.19m; and hole CDH-80 with 5.08 g/t Au and 197 g/t Ag over 6.11m, including 9.47 g/t Au and 399 g/t Ag over 2.3m.
- Zacatecas Silver Corp., announced it has received drilling permits from SEMARNAT for the execution of 10,000m of drilling at their El Panuco and San Gil projects in Zacatecas. The company also completed environmental studies at San Manuel and El Cristo projects and has submitted drill permit applications to SEMARNAT which expect to be received in approximately four weeks.
- Xali Gold Corp., has identified in a 3D Leapfrog model, new drill targets at its El Oro-Tlalpujahua mining district in the State of Mexico. These targets are designed to test potential extensions to the mineralized veins where they are intersected by cross-cutting mineralized structures. These structures have been incorporated into the 3D model in order to optimize drill angles and azimuths.
ON MINING
- Gatos Silver Inc., reported Q2, 2021 production and financial results from the Los Gatos mine in Chihuahua. The company mined 240,047 tonnes and milled 230,656 tonnes of 322 g/t Ag, 0.35 g/t Au, 2.5% Pb, and 4.4% Zn with metallurgical recoveries of 89%, 63%, 90%, and 75% respectively to produce 2.1M Oz Ag, 1.5K Oz Au, 11.2M Lb Pb, and 14.5M Lb Zn. Co-product cash cost and Co-product AISC were $11.5 and $17.65 per Oz AgEq respectively, while by-product cash cost and by-product AISC were $2.87 and $12.63 per Oz AgEq respectively. Gatos Silver reported operating expenses for $5.1M, a net income of $13.5M, and a cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2021 for $29.6M.
- Argonaut Gold Inc., announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from their Mexican operations. At El Castillo mine in Durango, the company mined 2,496,000 tonnes and processed 2,468,000 tonnes on leach pads with a grade of 0.25 g/t Au to produce 12.7K Oz Au and 17.4K Oz Ag or 12,929 Gold Equivalent Ounces (GEOs) at a cash cost of USD $1,109 per Oz Au sold. At San Agustin mine in Durango, Argonaut mined 2,718,000 tonnes and processed 2,962,000 tonnes on leach pads with a grade of 0.32 g/t Au to produce 18.1K Oz Au and 138.5K Oz Ag or 19,734 GEOs, at a cash cost of USD $801 per Oz Au sold. Consolidated results for El Castillo Complex (El Castillo + San Agustin mines) were 5,214,000 tonnes mined and 5,450,000 tonnes processed with a grade of 0.29 g/t Au to produce 30.8K Oz Au and 155.9K Oz Ag or 31.4K GEOs at a cash cost of USD $924 per Oz Au sold. At La Colorada mine in Sonora, it mined 1,150,000 tonnes and processed 1,247,000 tonnes on leach pads with a grade of 0.76 g/t Au to produce 16.7K Oz Au and 48.1K Oz Ag or 17,288 GEOs, at a cash cost of USD $608 per Oz Au sold. Argonaut also reported the discovery of high-grade gold veins below the El Creston open pit, including 98.9 g/t Au and 30 g/t Ag over 12.2m, and 44.6 g/t Au and 275 g/t Ag over 21.3m.
- Endeavour Silver Corp., presented Q2, 2021 consolidated financial results from their Mexican operations. The company produced 1.07M Oz Ag and 11.1K Oz Au (2MOz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $13.03 and USD $25.39 per Oz Ag payable respectively. It reported net revenue of USD $47.7M from the sale of 1.12M Oz Ag and 9.8K Oz Au; cash flow of USD $8.7M before working capital changes; earning of USD $6.7M; adjusted earning of USD $0.8M; cash position of USD $125.2M; and working capital of USD $146.8M. Endeavour also announced the suspension of operations at its El Compas mine in Zacatecas.
- GoGold Resources Inc., reported Q2, 2021 production and financial results from its Parral Tailings project in Chihuahua. The company produced 315.6K Oz Ag, 3,170 Oz Au, and 268.8K Lb Cu (563.4K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $13.31 and USD $16.98 per Oz AgEq. GoGold reported revenues for USD $15M on the sale of 563.4K Oz AgEq; free cash of USD $7.5M; cash flow from operations before working capital of USD $6M, and USD $2.7M after working capital; adjusted net income of USD $3.9M; and cash of USD 73.5M. The company plans to use the free cash flow generated from its Parral Tailings project to fund the current exploration program conducted at its Los Ricos project in Jalisco.
- Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., announced that mining, mucking, and stockpiling of mineralized material has begun at its El Cubo mine in Guanajuato in anticipation of the recommencement of operations at the El Cubo mill.
- Pan American Silver Corp., reported Q2, 2021 production and financial results from their La Colorada and Dolores mines in Zacatecas and Chihuahua respectively. At La Colorada, Zacatecas, the company produced 1.01M Oz Ag and 700 Oz Au at cash and AISC of USD $4.52 and USD $12.42 per Oz Ag respectively. At Dolores, Chihuahua, Pan American produced 612K Oz Ag and 43.3K Oz Au at cash and AISC of USD $602 and USD $716 per Oz Au respectively.
- Sierra Metals Inc., announced Q2, 2021 production and financial results from their Bolivar and Cusi mines in Chihuahua. At Bolivar mine, Chihuahua, the company processed 385,331 tonnes of 0.86% Cu, 19 g/t Ag, and 0.21 g/t Au to produce 5.8M Lb Cu, 202K Oz Ag, and 1,627 Oz Au (7.75M Lb CuEq) at cash and AISC of USD $1.17 and USD $3.27 per Lb CuEq respectively. At Cusi mine, Chihuahua, Sierra Metals processed 73,294 tonnes of 139 g/t Ag, 0.16 g/t Au and 0.1% Pb to produce 269K Oz Ag, 142 Oz Au and 129K Lb Pb (283K Oz AgEq) at cash and AISC of USD $21.67 and USD $35.73 per Oz AgEq.
ON FINANCING
- Magna Gold Corp., provided an update to its previously announced non-brokered private placement of CAD $10M convertible debentures. The principal amount of the debentures is convertible, at the election of Delbrook Capital Advisors Inc., into common shares of the company at a conversion price of CAD $1.25 per common share. The Company will pay Delbrook a 1.25% arrangement fee on closing of the private placement (San Francisco mine, Sonora).
- Southern Silver Exploration Corp., provided exercise instructions for warrants dated September 11, 2020 in connection with a CAD $10M brokered private placement of subscription receipts and a CAD $4M non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts which both closed on August 14, 2020 (Cerro Las Minitas, Durango).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Barksdale Resources Corp., commenced a 5,000m Phase 1 drilling program at its San Javier project in Sonora. Goals of this Phase 1 drilling program is to test the controls of the Cu mineralization at the Cerro Verde deposit in San Javier project, to step out of from known areas of previously drilled mineralization, and provide metallurgical samples for a column test work. Results from this drilling phase will be used to update a 3D model that will form the base for a new resource estimate.
- Azucar Minerals Ltd., provided an update for its El Cobre project in Veracruz. It has drilled a couple of holes: one at El Pedregal target and a second one at the Raya Tembrillo target within the Villa Rica Zone at its El Cobre property. A hole planned for the large area of alteration and mineralization of the Encinal Zone will be deferred until more detailed geologic work and review is complete. Assays of the two holes already drilled will be released when they are received and processed. It is also reviewing past acquired data to plan additional drilling for future programs.
- Gatos Silver Inc., reported drilling results from its 27,000m definitional drilling at its Cerro Los Gatos, Chihuahua. Highlights include hole GA404 collared at SE Zone of Esther deposit with 211 g/t Ag, 0.28 g/t Au, 5.5% Pb, and 8.3% Zn over 12.5m, and hole GA392 collared at NW Zone of Esther deposit with 27 g/t Ag, 0.9% Pb, and 4.5% Zn over 30m. “Drilling has identified three separate veins in SE Block #4: an upper vein, a middle vein with more characteristic thickness and grade of the main Cerro Los Gatos system, and a deeper footwall vein which was first identified in this campaign of drilling. The upper vein now has a demonstrated strike length of 400 meters which is open to the southeast and at depth. The middle vein has a demonstrated strike length of 520 meters which remains open to the northwest and at depth. The third vein has a demonstrated strike length of 800 meters and remains open to the southeast and at depth. These drill results extended 800m from the existing resource reserve blocks and remains open to the SE”.
- Gold Resource Corporation confirmed the up-dip extension of the Switchback Vein system and has also intersected additional mineralization at Sandi Vein system outside of the current mining area with upside potential to develop a new mineralized zone. Drilling highlight on Switchback Vein include hole # 521013 with 1.51 g/t Au, 95 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu, 1.2% Pb, and 1.8% Zn over 5.37m, including 2.61 g/t Au, 155 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 2.1% Pb, and 3% Zn over 2.9m; hole # 521014 with 0.82 g/t Au, 640 g/t Ag, 0.24% Cu, 0.2% Pb, and 0.8% Zn over 0.78m, hole # 521015 with 0.01 g/t Au, 2,610 g/t Ag, and 0.31% Cu over 1.55m; and hole # 521018 with 4.45 g/t Au, 4,460 g/t Ag, 0.03% Cu, 1% Pb, and 2.4% Zn over 0.36m. Drilling highlights at Sandy Vein system include hole # 521021 with 1.61 g/t Au, 33 g/t Ag, 0.5% Cu, 2.4% Pb, and 2.1% Zn over 8.67m, including 4.88 g/t Au, 75 g/t Ag, 0.93% Cu, 6.4% Pb, and 4% Zn over 2.77m; and hole # 521022 with 2.32 g/t Au, 19 g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 1.4% Pb, and 6.8% Zn over 1.18m. “The Sandy 1 vein is open on dip and along strike to the northwest, whilst southeastern potential, including linkage to the Switchback system, is being evaluated”.
- Osisko Development Corp., provided an update of the activities carried out in 2021 at its San Antonio project, Sonora. The company completed 9,900m of infill drilling of a planned two phase 45,000m drilling campaign. It also continues preparations to commence processing of the large stockpile on site, and announced that the heap leaching permitting is on schedule and anticipates granting of the permit by the end of the year.
- Pan American Silver Corp., reported its estimated mineral reserves and resources as of June 30, 2021 at their La Colorada, Dolores, and La Bolsa deposits in Zacatecas, Chihuahua, and Sonora respectively. Mineral resources are exclusive of mineral reserves. At La Colorada mine, Zacatecas, the company reported proven reserves of 3.9M tonnes of 350 g/t Ag and 0.25 g/t Au for a total of 43.5M Oz Ag and 30.6K Oz Au contained and probable reserves of 6.2M tonnes of 289 g/t Ag and 0.19 g/t Au for a total of 57.3M Oz Ag and 38.2K Oz Au contained. It also reported measured resources of 1.3M tonnes of 185 g/t Ag and 0.15 g/t Au for a total of 7.6M Oz Ag and 6K Oz Au contained, indicated resources of 1.9M tonnes of 175 g/t Ag and 0.15 g/t Au, for a total of 10.6M Oz Ag and 9K Oz Au contained, and inferred resources of 8.4M tonnes of 190 g/t Ag and 0.15 g/t Au for a total of 51.1M Oz Ag and 40.9K Oz Au. In addition La Colorada Skarn has inferred resources of 100.4M tonnes of 44 g/t Ag to contain a total of 141M Oz Ag. At Dolores mine, Chihuahua, Pan American reported proven reserves of 20.8M tonnes of 22 g/t Ag and 0.74 g/t Au for a total of 14.9M Oz Ag and 495.3K Oz Au contained and probable reserves of 6.2M tonnes of 28 g/t Ag and 0.78 g/t Au for a total of 5.6M Oz Ag and 155.1K Oz Au contained. The company also reported measured resources of 2.82M tonnes of 16 g/t Ag and 0.3 g/t Au for a total of 1.5M Oz Ag and 27.2K Oz Au, indicated resources of 0.82M tonnes of 22 g/t Ag and 0.62 g/t Au for a total of 0.6M Oz Ag and 16.3K Oz Au contained, and 2.7M tonnes of 46 g/t Ag and 1.25 g/t Au for a total of 4M Oz Ag and 108.5K Oz Au contained. At La Bolsa deposit, Sonora, the company reported measured resources of 10.8M tonnes of 10 g/t Ag and 0.7 g/t Au for a total of 3.5M Oz Ag and 242.8K Oz Au contained, indicated resources of 10.6M Oz tonnes of 8 g/t Ag and 0.54 g/t Au for a total of 2.7M Oz Ag and 154.3K Oz Au contained, and inferred resources of 13.7M tonnes of 8 g/t Ag, and 0.51 g/t Au for a total of 3.3M Oz Ag and 224.6K Oz Au contained.
- SilverCrest Metals Inc., provided an update on its Las Chispas mine construction in Sonora. The company reported that at the end of HI, 2021 Las Chispas progress was 33% completed; camp facility and earthworks completed; concrete foundation work 74% complete; plant tank, power line, road and bridge commenced; and 4.6Km of underground development completed. SilverCrest reported that as at July 31, 2021, the company remains well funded with cash and cash equivalents of USD $188M and USD $90M available under a USD $120M project financing facility. “Las Chispas could generate after-tax project free cash flow of approximately USD $160M in 2023 and an estimated average of USD $110M per year from 2023 to 2029”.
- Southern Silver Exploration Corp., released assay results from its ongoing drilling program at its Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango. Drilling highlights from Mina La Bocona Area include hole 21CLM-164 with 102 g/t Ag, 1.8% Pb, and 1.7% Zn (234 g/t AgEq) over a true width (TW) of 16.3m, including 383 g/t Ag, 7.9% Pb, and 10.2% Zn (1,051 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.4m; 21CLM-167 with 263 g/t Ag, 0.2 g/t Au, 6% Pb, and 1.2% Zn (513 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 1.7m, including 543 g/t Ag, 0.4 g/t Au, 12.7% Pb, and 1% Zn (1,011 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.7m; and hole 21CLM-170 with 7 g/t Ag, 0.4% Cu, and 10.6% Zn (443 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 2.5m, including 14 g/t Ag, 0.4% Cu, and 21% Zn (844 g/t AgEq) over a TW of 0.7m. The current drill program has now completed 56 core holes totaling 22,360 metres since drilling recommenced in September 2020. Assay results from five drill holes are pending and are anticipated over the coming weeks. “Southern Silver has now tested over 850m of strike length along the east side of the Cerro to depths of up to 500m, primarily in the South Skarn and Mina La Bocona target areas. Three bonanza grade mineralized zones have been identified as well as shallow intercepts of high-grade mineralization to the northwest of the Bocona target, results of which will be incorporated into an upcoming mineral resource update on the project”.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Excellon Resources Inc., provided an update on litigation involving the Company’s subsidiary, San Pedro Resources SA de CV (San Pedro) in respect of the La Antigua mineral concession (Evolution property, Zacatecas). Excellon received an initial electronic notice last July that San Pedro’s appeal to the federal courts of Mexico in respect of the litigation was dismissed, despite the lack of evidence, facts or law to support this outcome. The Company has now received the formal written decision on the appeal which, based on initial legal review, appears to uphold the judgment granting the plaintiff an award of approximately USD $23M and is not subject to further legal appeal in Mexico. Brendan Cahill, President and CEO of Excellon, stated that “The value ascribed in the judgment is impossible based on evidence, facts or law. Simply put, the maximum value realizable by the plaintiff from the agreement on La Antigua was USD $500K in the best-case scenario, yet the Miguel Auza Mine was shut down in 2008 almost immediately after operations commenced.”
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Alamos Gold Inc., has allocated MXP $400M in environmental investment at its la Yaqui Grande mining project in Sonora. The foregoing consists of environmental remediation works that will be carried out as areas of the mine are vacated, a different model from the traditional work that waits until the end of the useful life of a mine to carry out reclamation and closure activities. In La Yaqui Grande, it is contemplated to have constant reclamation of areas, placing the vegetal roof covering in layers and stages, which implied a special design and engineering to make it possible throughout the seven years of operation. The company will also acquire a treatment plant that will allow the water used in the operation to be recirculated, reducing its consumption. The design of “tepetateras or dumps” is different from the traditional ones and there is already a nursery for the reproduction of native plants of the region, which will supply the demand for the development of this environmental project.
Content like what you have just read can be seen at https://gambusinoprospector.com/ and at LinkedIn’s Mexico Mineral Exploration Group.
On the picture above, a volcanic-hosted quartz vein with oxidized pyrite in a low sulphidation epithermal vein system from a prospect in Chihuahua, Mexico. Photo by Miguel A Heredia.
The Mining and Exploration News in Mexico: Highlights on the Fourth Week of July, 2021

By Jorge Cirett
During the 29th week of the year (July 19th to July 25th, 2021), at least 19 press releases were announced by companies working in Mexico. To note, two companies posted exploration advances on their properties, two on quarterly reports and one in reopening plans, two on financing news, five more on project development or resource definition and two posted on deals or corporate issues. ON MEXICO ISSUES, no relevant news. ON EXPLORATION, in Sonora, Silver Spruce added a second rig to Drilling at El Diamante. In Chihuahua, Mammoth Resources informed on drill targeting at Tenoriba. ON MINING, Fortuna Silver and Excellon Resources released Q2 2021 reports. Americas Gold and Silver updated on the re-opening plan at its Cosalá operations. ON FINANCING, Altaley Mining executed a 12 M loan agreement for the development of Tahuehueto. ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT, Mexican Gold Mining continues work on Cerro Las Minitas PEA. Sonoro Gold released results from surface rock chip sampling at Cerro Caliche. Southern Silver Exploration reported diamond drill results from Cerro Las Minitas. GoGold Resources released drilling results from Los Ricos North. ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES, Sierra Madre Gold and Silver signed an option agreement on the acquisition of the La Tigra project in Nayarit. Vizsla Silver is to exercise the option to acquire 100% of the Panuco-Copala district in Sinaloa. ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on the several projects that the companies provide for the education of young people on several areas of Mexico, especially in digital platforms. Conalep and the New Mexico Institute of Mining signed an agreement to enhance the learning of students across the borders.
ON MEXICO ISSUES
- No Relevant News.
ON EXPLORATION
- Mammoth Resources Corp. informed on drill targeting activities at Tenoriba, in Chihuahua. “The Company has extended drill targets an additional 1.7 kilometres (km), for a total of over 4.0 km from its previously announced initial 2.4 km of the 3-dimensional (3D) modelling of its infill, Induced Polarization/Magnetometer (IP/Mag) geophysical survey”. Work in the project by previous operators, Mammoth and Centerra includes over 6,000 soil samples, more than 750 rock chip samples, 151 m of surface channel samples, 26 diamond drill holes, IP and magnetic geophysical surveys, mapping, and spectral identification of alteration minerals.
- Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is to continue its phase 1 reverse circulation drilling at El Mezquite in Sonora. Seven holes have been already completed, and a second rig has been added to the property to complete the 2,475 m of drilling. “The Phase 1 RC program comprises 20 holes with a combined depth of 2,475 metres (950 metres completed) and will utilize eight drill pad locations focused around a 400m x 600m area with elevated precious metal values to 3.41 g/t Au and 387 g/t Ag”.
ON MINING
- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. reported production results for the second quarter 2021. At its San José mine in Oaxaca, 1.62 M Oz Ag, 10,266 Oz Au were produced from ore averaging 205 gpt Ag, 1.30 gpt Au. Production and cost guidance for 2021 is 5.8-6.5 M Oz Ag, 38-42 K Oz Au at an AISC of US$12.2-14.5 per Oz AgEq.
- Excellon Resources Inc. announced Q2 2021 production results from its Platosa mine in Durango. A total of 21.8 K tonnes were mined, and 21.6 K tonnes were milled @ 489 gpt Ag, 5.14% Pb, 6.48% Zn, recovering 87.0% Ag, 78.6% Pb, 79.4% Zn, to produce 296 K Oz Ag, 1.93 M Lb Pb, 2.46 M Lb Zn.
- Americas Gold and Silver Corp. provided an update on the re-opening plan of its Cosalá operations in Sinaloa. The Company and Government Labour inspectors jointly visited the mine and mill and both appear in good condition. “Mexican government inspectors from the Mexican Ministry of Labour will be in Cosalá this week to review the re‐start plans, which will allow the Company to begin recalling employees immediately following the completion of the inspection assuming compliance with the terms of the July 6, 2021 agreement“. The company expects the mine and the mill to be operating by the end of July, and the operation also has 70 K tonnes of ore stockpiled and ready to process.
ON FINANCING
- Altaley Mining Corp. executed a US$12 M loan facility agreement with Accendo Banco S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, to complete the final part of it’s previously announced US$25 M Accendo syndicate funding plan to complete the construction and ramp-up of its Tahuehueto project in Durango (Campo Morado, Guerrero).
- Zacatecas Silver Corp. announced that its common shares are eligible for electronic clearing and settlement through the Depositary Trust Co. in the United States. “DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, a U.S. company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies. Securities that are eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through DTC are considered to be “DTC eligible” (Zacatecas Silver, Zacatecas).
ON RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Mexican Gold Mining Corp. announced work continues to produce the PEA on its Las Minas project in Veracruz, within three weeks.
- Sonoro Gold Corp. reported assay results from surface sampling at its Cerro Caliche property in Sonora. With 1,292 soil and rock samples collected, a 600 m southern extension and a 750 m extension were confirmed on the El Colorado-La Ventana and the Buena Suerte-San Quintin corridors, with 23.7 m @ 1.7 gpt Au (including 5.5 m @ 6.0 gpt Au) in the former and 52.6 m @ 0.2 gpt Au in the latter.
- Southern Silver Exploration Corp. reported diamond hole drilling results from its Cerro Las Minitas project in Durango. Highlighted true width intervals comprise 1.4 m @ 719 gpt Ag, 14.2% Pb, 16.0% Zn; 0.4 m @ 541 gpt Ag, 0.1 gpt Au, 8.8% Pb, 4.0% Zn in the South Skarn target, and 0.5 m @ 452 gpt Ag, 0.5 gpt Au, 2.8% Pb, 0.6% Zn; 0.5 m @ 312 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 2.8% Pb, 0.6% Zn in the Huizache chimney in the Mina La Bocona area. “Current modelling has identified three panels of mineralization at the South Skarn target, the largest of which can now be traced laterally for approximately 400 metres and up to 580 metres down-dip”.
- GoGold Resources Inc. released results of eight diamond drill holes from El Orito area in the Los Ricos North project in Jalisco. Highlighted core length intervals comprise 41.2 m @ 10 gpt Ag, 0.01 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 2.0% Zn; 33.3 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.08% Cu, 1.1% Pb, 1.7% Zn; 13.0 m @ 30 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, 0.22% Cu, 0.3% Pb, 1.1% Zn; 3.0 m @ 19 gpt Ag, 0.02 gpt Au, 0.34% Cu, 1.3% Pb, 1.6% Zn; 18.0 m @ 51 gpt Ag, 0.09 gpt Au, 0.06% Cu, 0.4% Pb (including 1.9 m @ 230 gpt Ag, 0.34 gpt Au, 0.23% Cu, 1.0% Pb; 54.3 m @ 97 gpt Ag, 0.12 gpt Au, 0.70% Cu, 2.9% Pb, 5.4% Zn; 38.1 m @ 32 gpt Ag, 0.03 gpt Au, 0.17% Cu, 1.9% Pb, 2.7% Zn; 69.1 m @ 26 gpt Ag, 0.05 gpt Au, 0.14% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 1.6% Zn (including 4.0 m @ 149 gpt Ag, 0.25 gpt Au, 0.70% Cu, 3.2% Pb, 6.9% Zn). “The holes that the Company has drilled to date at El Orito have shown mineralization averaging approximately 30m in width for more than 700m in strike length and up to approximately 300m in vertical depth from surface and is open in all directions”.
- Minera Alamos Inc. informed that its Santana project in Sonora continues to advance as programmed despite the above average rainfall to date in the area. The press release describes all the progress in leach solution systems, overliner placement, crushing and screening, grade procedures and mining.
ON DEALS AND CORPORATE ISSUES
- Sierra Madre Gold and Silver Ltd. Entered into a purchase agreement with an option to joint venture with Industrial Minera México S.A. de C.V. (IMMSA) for the 357 ha. La Tigra project in Nayarit, 150 km north of its flagship’s Tepic project. The agreement involves payment of US$1.5 M over three years, with Sierra Madre obliged to produce a 43-101 technical report before the end of the period. IMMSA holds a 2.5% NSR royalty of which Sierra Madre can acquire 1.5% for US$1.5 M.
- Vizsla Silver Corp. signed a binding agreement with Minera Rio Panuco S.A. de C.V. and executed a binding option exercise notice with Silverstone Resources which together constitute the acceleration and exercise of the option to acquire 100% of the Panuco-Copala district in Sinaloa. Vizsla has to pay $US4.25 M upon signing, issue US$12 M in Vizsla shares before August 10, 2021; and make a cash payment of $US6.1 M before February 2022.
ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Peñoles and Fresnillo PLC informed on the several projects that the companies support provide for the education of young people on several areas of Mexico, especially in digital platforms.
- Conalep (Colegio Nacional de Estudios Profesionales y Tecnicos) and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology signed an agreement to enhance the learning of Mexican and American students.
On the image below: Intense quartz veining in a granitic intrusive rock in Sinaloa. Picture by Jorge Cirett.








